James Bourland

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch May 24, 1906

The Vigil Panel 20 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 312

Incident

Deputy Marshal Bourland was shot and killed by a man he had arrested the previous day and with whom he also had previous encounters. The suspect and Deputy Marshal Bourland encountered each other in a saloon in Anadarko, Oklahoma, early the following morning. The suspect immediately drew his gun and shot Deputy Marshal Bourland in the stomach. Deputy Marshal Bourland was able to return fire and shot the suspect in the leg. Both men were taken to a local doctor's office where Deputy Marshal Bourland died the following morning. The suspect had his leg amputated and also died the following day. Deputy Marshal Bourland also served as a deputy sheriff for the Caddo County, Oklahoma, Sheriff's Department.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-2FAF0CFE
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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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Bourland served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy U.S. Marshal Bourland.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 24, 1906

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Shot and killed

Deputy U.S. Marshal James Bourland 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.

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service

251

of 313 officers

80.2% Felonious

DC — Statewide

754

of 1,419 officers

53.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious