Roll of Honor
Incident
Special Deputy Sheriff John Rainey was shot and killed while he assisted the sheriff and a deputy arrest a man wanted for burglary.
The man was suspected of burglarizing a store in Riverside and then fleeing to McCrory Station. They located the man at a house and the sheriff attempted to arrest him. The man suddenly pulled out a pistol and shot at the sheriff before running from the home. As he ran out of the house he shot Deputy Rainey in the neck, killing him instantly.
The officers chased the man through town firing at the subject, but the man was able to get away. The sheriff and a posse located him near Colona early the next morning and seriously wounded him when he pulled out his gun.
The suspect, 19, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. In August of 1908 he escaped from a convict farm at Tillar. On May 1, 1909, he was captured in Pine Bluff.
Special Deputy Sheriff Rainey, On today, the 130th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Woodruff County.
R.I.P. USBP
Anonymous United States Border Patrol August 4th, 2023
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
133 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Special Deputy Sheriff Rainey served with the Woodruff County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Augusta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Deputy Sheriff John Rainey 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 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. John Rainey's cause is highlighted.
How John Rainey Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and wounded
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Rainey is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Rainey was killed by handgun.