John C. Mullins

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch December 25, 1908

The Vigil Panel 23 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 312

Incident

Deputy Marshal Mullins was shot and killed as he and a posse attempted to serve injunction papers to strikers in Stearns, KY. The injunction, which had been granted by a federal judge, stated that striking miners could not interfere with the workings of the mines. Most of the miners received the papers without incident, but a small group barricaded themselves in the Simpson hotel and refused to be served. Deputy Marshal Mullins was given orders to round up a posse of ten men to serve the papers to the barricaded men. In spite of being four men short, Deputy Marshal Mullins went to the hotel. As soon as he attempted to open the door to the miner's room, the miners opened fire with rifles and revolvers. Deputy Marshal Mullins was killed instantly and several others were wounded. During the gunfight, the hotel caught fire. Several of the miners perished in the fire, several were arrested as they fled the flames, and many escaped into the hills. The fate of those specifically responsible for Deputy Marshal Mullins's death is uncertain.

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Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Mullins served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy U.S. Marshal Mullins.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 25, 1908

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Unavailable

Deputy U.S. Marshal John C. Mullins 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.

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service

251

of 313 officers

80.2% Felonious

DC — Statewide

754

of 1,419 officers

53.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious