Roll of Honor
Incident
City Marshal William Karr was shot and killed near the Gilman freight depot while making his nightly rounds at approximately 11:15 pm.
Several citizens heard a gunshot and then observed Marshal Karr staggering across the railroad tracks toward the Redfield Hotel. The freight master assisted Marshal Karr back to the depot where he died before he could make any statements. He had been shot one time in the chest by a .32 caliber revolver.
No suspects are known to have been apprehended.
Marshal Karr had only served as the city marshal for only three weeks.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-60818835- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
127 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
City Marshal Karr served with the Gilman Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Gilman community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal William R. Karr 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William R. Karr's cause is highlighted.
How William R. Karr Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William R. Karr is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William R. Karr was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.