Howard Wilson
Agency patch
Deputy U.S. Marshal

Howard Wilson

Felonious
End of Watch July 8, 1900
Age 47
The Vigil Panel 16 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: Kentucky Weapon: Handgun; .38 caliber Offender: Shot and killed

Deputy Marshal Howard Wilson was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect in Menifee County, Kentucky. He and another deputy marshal had gone in search of a man who was wanted in Virginia for murder, robbery, and violations of liquor laws. They located him in Mariba walking with another man and two girls. When the marshals rode up behind them and announced themselves, both men turned and opened fire. Deputy Marshal Wilson returned fire killing the other man. The suspect shot and killed him. The other deputy shot and critically wounded the suspect.

On January 4, 1901, the 22-year-old suspect escaped from the Frenchburg Jail after been transferred there from a hospital two days earlier. The following September he shot and killed a man at a liquor still in Menifee County. On November 8, 1904, he was being chased by a posse in Breathitt County when he turned and opened fire killing two posse members. The others returned fire killing him.

Deputy Marshal Wilson was survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.

Survivors

Deputy Marshal Wilson was survived by his wife, daughter, and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-72CDAEDF
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.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Wilson 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 Wilson.

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

Agency

Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 8, 1900
Age 47
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
Offender Shot and killed

Deputy U.S. Marshal Howard 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.

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

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Howard Wilson's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Howard Wilson Compares

Age at End of Watch
47
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Howard Wilson is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Howard Wilson was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location