End of Watch December 15, 1890
The Vigil Panel 10 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant Little Eagle was shot and killed during an attack by a group of American Indians. A total of six officers from the United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs were killed when they were attacked following the arrest of Chief Sitting Bull of the Sioux Indian tribe in South Dakota. After arresting the Chief the officers were traveling back to their headquarters when they were attacked by a group led by the chief's son. Four officers were killed and two were wounded in the attack. The Sioux Chief was also killed along with his son. The two injured officers later died of their wounds.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-488E7429
Stewardship
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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

136 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sergeant Little Eagle served with the United States Department of the Interior.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdibiaojsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 15, 1890
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Sergeant James Little Eagle is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 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 0.8 percentage points below the national rate of 53.9%.

At United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services, 45 of 52 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 86.5% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of the Interior - Bureau of Indian Affairs - Office of Justice Services
45
of 52 officers
86.5% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,419 officers
53.1% Felonious
Nationwide
17,559
of 32,586 officers
53.9% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Little Eagle's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,559 (53.9%)
Accident
10,094 (31%)
Illness
3,037 (9.3%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
334 (1%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)

How James Little Eagle Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Little Eagle is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Little Eagle was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909