Roll of Honor
Willard Rufus Ayers
Incident
Deputy Marshal Willard Ayers was shot and killed while serving a warrant on a man in Cherokeetown, Chickasaw Nation (present day Oklahoma). The subject asked Deputy Marshal Ayers if he could get clothing and Deputy Marshal Ayers agreed. The man instead picked up a gun and shot Marshal Ayers in the head, killing him. The man was sentenced to death and was hung April 28th, 1888, at Fort Smith Arkansas.
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BO-US-52372416- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
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Deputy U.S. Marshal Ayers 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 Willard Rufus Ayers is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
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. Willard Rufus Ayers's cause is highlighted.
How Willard Rufus Ayers Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentence commuted to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Willard Rufus Ayers is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Willard Rufus Ayers was killed by gun; unknown type.
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.
