Roll of Honor
John Nathaniel Merritt
Incident
Location: Georgia Weapon: Handgun Offender: Acquitted
Deputy U.S. Marshal John Merritt was shot and killed in Lula, Georgia, while speaking to the owner of a local distillery.
Deputy Marshal Merritt had accompanied a raiding party of other deputy marshals and Internal Revenue deputy collectors in search of illegal distilleries in Banks County. They were unable to find any illegal activity and returned to Lula to catch the passenger train south. They were in a local restaurant across the tracks from the railroad depot when the distillery owner entered and asked to speak to Deputy Marshal Merritt outside.
The man shot Deputy Marshal Merritt immediately upon exiting the restaurant and then fled. He remained at large for several years until being arrested in Texas in 1889. He was acquitted of Deputy Marshal Merritt's murder in 1890.
Deputy Marshal Merritt was a United States Civil War veteran and had served with the United States Marshals Service for only three months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and children, as well as his parents and four siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-1745FE44- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Merritt served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Nathaniel Merritt served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy U.S. Marshal John Nathaniel Merritt 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Nathaniel Merritt's cause is highlighted.
How John Nathaniel Merritt Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Nathaniel Merritt is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Nathaniel Merritt was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
312 officers from United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
