Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer James Davis was shot and killed while investigating reports of a suspicious person outside of Hinkle Fieldhouse on the university campus.
The suspect was reported to police after being observed watching the women's basketball team practice for an extended period of time. Officer Davis had just radioed dispatchers to check the suspect's identification when he was attacked by the suspect and shot with his own service weapon.
The suspect then stole Officer Davis' service weapon as he fled the scene. The man was shot and killed several hours later after being located by two Marion County Sheriff's Department deputies in an off-campus neighborhood. The man opened fire on the two deputies with Officer Davis' stolen service weapon and was killed when the deputies returned fire.
Officer Davis had served with the Butler University Police Department for just under two years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-B4F69E41- 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.
Police Officer Davis gave the Butler University Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Davis.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer James L. Davis, Jr. 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 IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James L. Davis, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How James L. Davis, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James L. Davis, Jr. is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James L. Davis, Jr. was killed by officer's handgun.