Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Alabama Incident Date: Tuesday, October 2, 1906 Weapon: Handgun Offender: Not available
Special Agent Roy Hoyle was shot and killed in Mobile, Alabama, while attempting to keep a mob of citizens from storming the jail in an attempt to lynch a 17-year-old prisoner who had been charged with sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl.
A mob of approximately 500 men gathered near the intersection of Royal Street and Dauphin Street without knowing that the prisoner had been secretly moved out of the city and hidden in a Mobile and Ohio Railroad terminal.
The jailer had allowed several men in the mob that he personally knew to search the jail to prove that the prisoner was not there; however, the full mob attempted to force its way in even after the men assured them the prisoner was not there. One of the guards inside fired a shot in an attempt to warn the mob, but several of the citizens opened fire. Special Agent Hoyle and a city alderman were both shot. Special Agent Hoyle was struck in the abdomen and died a short time later.
Special Agent Hoyle was survived by his daughter and brothers.
Survivors
Special Agent Hoyle was survived by his daughter and brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-2D67DAAC- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Roy. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Agent Hoyle served with the Mobile and Ohio Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Mobile community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Hoyle.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent Roy L. Hoyle is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 63 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Mobile and Ohio Railroad Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Roy L. Hoyle's cause is highlighted.
How Roy L. Hoyle Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Roy L. Hoyle is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Roy L. Hoyle was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Mobile and Ohio Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
