John F. Lally

New Orleans Police Department — New Orleans, LA

Felonious

End of Watch July 27, 1900

The Vigil Panel 16 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 127

Incident

Corporal John Lally was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend a violent suspect who had murdered two police officers three days earlier. On July 23rd, 1900, three New Orleans police Officers approached a man who was sitting with a friend. The subject produced a handgun and opened fire, wounding one of the officers. The following day, a team of officers tracked the suspect to his home on Fourth Street, between Rampart Street and Saratoga Street. The man opened fire on them with a .38 caliber Winchester rifle as they entered the home, killing Captain John Day and Peter Patrolman Lamb. Other officers immediately surrounded the home, however, the man was able to escape. Investigators received a tip on July 27th, 1900, indicating that the man was hiding in a home in the 1200 block of Saratoga Street. As officers attempted to take him into custody he opened fire, killing Sergeant Gabe Porteous and Corporal John Lally. The man then barricaded himself inside of the home. Keeper Van Kuren and several other officers took up a position in a home at 1209 Rampart Street that provided a view of the home in which the man was barricaded. As Keeper Van Kuren stood in a doorway of the home the man opened fire from a window, killing him. The suspect was shot and killed by other officers when he attempted to escape from the home.

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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.
Corporal Lally served with the New Orleans Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New Orleans community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Lally.

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

Agency

Department New Orleans Police Department

Location New Orleans, LA

Platform Identity nopd.orleans.la.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 27, 1900

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; .38 caliber

Offender Shot and killed

Corporal John F. Lally 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 LA, 364 of 595 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.2% of this state's fallen. That is 7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At New Orleans Police Department, 86 of 128 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 67.2% of this agency's fallen.

New Orleans Police Department

of 128 officers

67.2% Felonious

LA — Statewide

364

of 595 officers

61.2% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious