Roll of Honor
Vernon Coke Wilson
Incident
Deputy Marshal Vernon Wilson and Deputy Marshal Andrew W. McGennis were shot and killed in Fresno County, California, while they attempted to arrest two suspects wanted for the murder of Tulare County, California, Deputy Oscar Beaver one month earlier. The suspects were Chris Evans and John Sontag, notorious California train robbers. A little less than a year later, Sontag was killed and Evans was apprehended after a gun battle with a posse. Evans lost an eye and his right hand in the fight. Chris Evans was sentenced to life in Folsom Prison. He was paroled in 1912. Deputy Marshal Wilson is buried at Court Street Cemetery in Tuscon, Arizona.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-3D080927- 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 Vernon. 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
134 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Wilson served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy U.S. Marshal Vernon Coke Wilson 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. Vernon Coke Wilson's cause is highlighted.
How Vernon Coke Wilson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Vernon Coke Wilson is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Vernon Coke Wilson 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.
