Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff John Campbell was shot and killed while attempting to arrest his cousin at the D.A.R. School near Grant, Alabama.
Approximately 600 were attending a fiddler's convention at the school and his cousin was creating a disturbance in the auditorium after having become drunk. As Deputy Campbell attempted to arrest him, the man began to struggle and disarmed him. He then shot Deputy Campbell multiple times before fleeing.
The suspect was apprehended in Miami, Texas, on November 17, 1929. He was returned to Marshall County and jailed for murder. His first trial ended with a hung jury. Several months later, Deputy Campbell's brother engaged in a gunfight with a man who testified in the defendant's behalf, and was killed. In April of 1932 the second trial ended with a manslaughter conviction in the second degree. The suspect was sentenced to one year.
Deputy Campbell was survived by his wife, three children, parents, and six siblings.
Survivors
Deputy Campbell was survived by his wife, three children, parents, and six siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-678E654A- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Campbell served with the Marshall County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Guntersville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Campbell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John L. Campbell 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 AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Marshall County Sheriff's Dept., 4 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John L. Campbell's cause is highlighted.
How John L. Campbell Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 1 year
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John L. Campbell is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John L. Campbell was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Marshall County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
