Roll of Honor
Joseph S. Wilson
Incident
Deputy Marshal Joseph Wilson was shot and killed while serving an arrest on a man near Tahlequah, Indian Territory. During the arrest the two exchanges shots and Deputy Marshal Wilson was struck in the side. The suspect and another man fled the scene but returned the following day and found Deputy Marshal Wilson still alive. They then beat him with a piece of firewood and an axe, killing him. The buried his body in a nearby ravine. The two suspects turned themselves in several days later. One of the suspects was initially sentenced to death but later sentenced to only 5 years after appealing his sentence. The second suspect was acquitted. Deputy Wilson is buried in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
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BO-US-FED-733565A2- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
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Deputy U.S. Marshal Wilson served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy U.S. Marshal Joseph S. Wilson 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 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph S. Wilson's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph S. Wilson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph S. Wilson is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph S. Wilson was killed by edged weapon.
Others Who Wore This Badge
312 officers from United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
