Roll of Honor
Herbert Ray
Incident
Deputy U.S. Marshal Herbert Ray was shot and killed in Lexington, Kentucky, while investigating rum-runners after he stopped them in their car near the intersection Fifth Street and Campbell Street. When he approached four men and a woman inside the vehicle, one man opened fire striking him in the abdomen. Despite the wound, he was able to return fire as the suspects sped away and then walked to a nearby store where he called for help. He succumbed to his wounds the following evening. Four suspects were later arrested. The gunman could not be found. Marshal Ray's return fire had hit one suspect, 20, in the arm, which had to be amputated. All four were charged with accessory to murder. On June 26, 1935, one was convicted of accessory to murder and sentenced to five years. Another man and the woman were acquitted. The suspect who lost his arm was later convicted of possession of illegal liquor and sentenced to one year. On July 13, 1935, the gunman, 23, was apprehended by federal officers in Michigan City, Indiana. The following February he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. He was paroled in December of 1944. Deputy Marshal Ray had served with the United States Marshals Service for only one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-E40D2BFA- 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
You barely got started.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Ray gave the United States Department of Justice 1 year.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy U.S. Marshal Ray.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy U.S. Marshal Herbert Ray 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Herbert Ray's cause is highlighted.
How Herbert Ray Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1944
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Herbert Ray is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Herbert Ray was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
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.
