Roll of Honor
Samuel Lilly
Incident
Deputy Marshal Lilly and Officer Leon George, of the Wilmington, North Carolina, Police Department, were shot and killed after being ambushed at about 1900 hours at approximately 15 miles from Wilmington. The two were returning for a liquor still raid when they were attacked as the crossed a creek. Both officers and Officer George's dog were shot at close range and killed. Four suspects were apprehended. Two of them were father and son and executed for the murders on the same day.
Survivors
Deputy Marshal Lilly had been with the agency for seven years and was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-94222F04- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Lilly gave the United States Department of Justice 7 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy U.S. Marshal Lilly.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy U.S. Marshal Samuel Lilly 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 DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, 251 of 313 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel Lilly's cause is highlighted.
How Samuel Lilly Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel Lilly is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel Lilly was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
312 officers from United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
