Roll of Honor
Vernon Coke Wilson
Incident
Deputy Marshal Vernon Wilson and Deputy Marshal Andrew W. McGennis were shot and killed in Fresno County, California, while they attempted to arrest two suspects wanted for the murder of Tulare County, California, Deputy Oscar Beaver one month earlier. The suspects were Chris Evans and John Sontag, notorious California train robbers. A little less than a year later, Sontag was killed and Evans was apprehended after a gun battle with a posse. Evans lost an eye and his right hand in the fight. Chris Evans was sentenced to life in Folsom Prison. He was paroled in 1912. Deputy Marshal Wilson is buried at Court Street Cemetery in Tuscon, Arizona.
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BO-US-FED-3D080927- Stewardship
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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
134 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Wilson served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy U.S. Marshal Vernon Coke 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 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. Vernon Coke Wilson's cause is highlighted.
How Vernon Coke Wilson Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Vernon Coke Wilson is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Vernon Coke Wilson was killed by gun; unknown type.
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.
