Roll of Honor
John W. Johnson
Incident
Correctional Officer John Johnson was stabbed to death at USP Leavenworth in Leavenworth, Kansas. While locking up inmates for the night at 9:00 p.m., one of the men struck him with a large piece of strap steel, knocking him to the ground. When another officer came to his aid, the inmate stabbed him. The inmate then stabbed Officer Johnson 117 times. The inmate, 47, was charged with murder and assaulting two correctional officers in the same incident. He had been sentenced in 1968 to 15 years for kidnapping. The state of Kentucky had a detainer against him for a life sentence for robbery. Seven more inmates were charged with assaulting correctional officers in the same incident. Officer Johnson's killer was removed to the Wyandotte County Jail, charged with murder, and there to remain until his trial. In May of 1975, he and another inmate overpowered the jailer, obtained two pistols, and held the jailer and three deputies hostage. He shot the jailer in the shoulder until they were talked into surrendering an hour later. On October 1, 1975, he was convicted of Officer Johnson's murder, but before he was to be sentenced the next day, he escaped from the Wyandotte County Jail again. He was apprehended by FBI agents three days later in at a trailer park in the Kansas City Suburb of Muncie. He was sentenced to life plus 20 years for Officer Johnson's murder. Six months later, he committed suicide in prison. Officer Johnson had served with the Federal Bureau of Prisons for eight months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-5B4BE72E- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Correctional Officer Johnson served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Johnson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Correctional Officer John W. Johnson 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 - Federal Bureau of Prisons, 26 of 34 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John W. Johnson's cause is highlighted.
How John W. Johnson Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John W. Johnson is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John W. Johnson was killed by edged weapon.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
33 officers from United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
