Charles C. Wilson

Oceanside Police Department — Oceanside, CA

Felonious

End of Watch July 4, 1889

Age 28

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

The Vigil Panel 10 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

City Marshal Charles Wilson was shot and killed while patrolling the downtown area. Marshal Wilson and his brother, the deputy marshal, heard gun shots near a hotel and went to investigate. When the arrived at the scene they observed a man holding a kerosene lamp taken from a street light. Marshal Wilson grabbed the man's horse by the bridal. The suspect immediately shot Marshal Wilson in the head, killing him instantly. The suspect fled but was later apprehended by a group of citizens. The suspect was sentenced to death after two trials but died in prison only a few weeks before he was to be hanged. Marshal Wilson had been with the Oceanside Police Department for over 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-312C63A4
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

137 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
City Marshal Wilson gave the Oceanside Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Oceanside community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Oceanside Police Department

Location Oceanside, CA

Platform Identity opd.sandiego.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 4, 1889

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 28

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .44 caliber

Offender Died in jail

City Marshal Charles C. Wilson 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Oceanside Police Department, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Oceanside Police Department

of 4 officers

100% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious