James Bryan McCrystal
Sergeant

James Bryan McCrystal

Felonious
End of Watch July 14, 2015
Age 47
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
The Vigil Panel 164 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sergeant James McCrystal was killed in a hit-and-run crash while en route from the Phillips State Prison to a local hospital to assist with the supervision of an inmate.

He was driving on I-85, between Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road and Sugar Loaf Parkway, when another car collided with his. The collision caused Sergeant McCrystal's vehicle to overturn. He was ejected from the vehicle and suffered fatal injuries.

The driver of the second vehicle fled the scene but turned herself in later that night. She was charged with hit-and-run and vehicular homicide.

Sergeant McCrystal had served with the Georgia Department of Corrections for 12 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, six children, mother, and several siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-94E6333B
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.
Sergeant McCrystal gave the Georgia Department of Corrections 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Georgia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant McCrystal.

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

Agency

Location Atlanta, GA
Platform Identity gdcorr.fulton.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 14, 2015
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 47
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Vehicular assault
Weapon Automobile
Offender Charged with vehicular homicide

Sergeant James Bryan McCrystal 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 GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 6.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Georgia Dept. of Corrections, 16 of 38 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.1% of this agency's fallen.

Georgia Dept. of Corrections
16
of 38 officers
42.1% Felonious
GA — Statewide
548
of 903 officers
60.7% 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. James Bryan McCrystal'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 James Bryan McCrystal Compares

Age at End of Watch
47
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
12
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Charged with vehicular homicide

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Bryan McCrystal 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. James Bryan McCrystal was killed by automobile.

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

Incident Location