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Deputy U.S. Marshal

Reuben LaFayette Hughett

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

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch June 15, 1930

Age 43

The Vigil Panel 59 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 312

Incident

Location: Tennessee Incident Date: Friday, June 13, 1930 Weapon: Handgun; Revolver Offender: Paroled in 1942

Deputy Marshal Reuben Hughett succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained two days earlier as he and several other officers attempted to serve a warrant on present-day Maynardville Highway in the Copper Ridge in Knox County, Tennessee.

The suspects named in the warrant had sold liquor to a prohibition agent several days earlier. After serving the warrant, one of the men asked to go inside to retrieve personal items. Deputy Marshal Hughett allowed him to go inside, but followed him into the home. The man told Deputy Marshal Hughett to wait in one room as the man went into another, but Deputy Marshal Hughett continued to follow him. A struggle ensued, and the man produced a revolver and shot Deputy Marshal Hughett. The suspect was then taken into custody.

Deputy Marshal Hughett was transported to Fort Sanders Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds on June 15, 1930.

The suspect, 41, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 21 years. He was paroled on January 5, 1942, but as he left Brushy Mountain Penitentiary, he was confronted by a U.S. Marshall who took him into custody and transported him to Leavenworth to serve a 5 year sentence for violating the prohibition law. In 1953, he was sentenced to a year in prison after he shot at a Tennessee state trooper a year earlier, who stopped him for careless and reckless driving. He was paroled after serving four months, but on November 6, 1954, he was returned to prison for violating his parole. He was ordered to serve the remaining eight months for driving without a license. On February 7, 1957, he was shot and killed by his son.

Deputy Marshal Hughett was a United States Army veteran. He was survived by his wife. His father had served as the sheriff of the Scott County Sheriff's Office (Tennessee).

Survivors

He was survived by his wife. He was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FED-6ABF1DD9
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 Hughett 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

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 June 15, 1930

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; Revolver

Offender Paroled in 1942

Military Service

Reuben LaFayette Hughett served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Reuben LaFayette Hughett 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