Roll of Honor
Incident
Special Deputy Marshal James Wood was shot and killed while assisting the town marshal arrest a man wanted for robbery in Elizabethtown.
The marshal had verbally deputized Deputy Marshal Wood to assist with arresting the man. The subject opened fire on them as they approached him at the Louisville & Nashville Railroad depot. Deputy Marshal Wood was shot and killed.
The suspect the scene but was located three days later by Hardin County Sheriff Robert McMurtry. The suspect shot and killed Sheriff McMurtry while hiding in the attic of a home the sheriff was searching. The man was convicted of murder and executed in the electric chair on July 30, 1915.
Special Deputy Wood had served with the Upton Police Department for only one day.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-KY-3C3267B2- 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.
Special Deputy Marshal Wood served with the Upton Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Upton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Deputy Marshal Wood.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Deputy Marshal James Wood 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 KY, 755 of 983 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 76.8% of this state's fallen. That is 22.6 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 Wood's cause is highlighted.
How James Wood Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1915
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Wood is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Wood was killed by gun; unknown type.