John McDonough

New Orleans Police Department — New Orleans, LA

Felonious

End of Watch February 5, 1877

The Vigil Panel 5 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 127

Incident

Police Officer John McDonough succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day when he was shot inside the Central Police Station, which was located at the corner of South Basin Street and Commons Street, by his nephew whom he had just arrested.

Officer McDonough and another officer arrested his nephew and the nephew's friend for being drunk and disorderly. Both officers had just placed the men inside a jail cell when the nephew retrieved a small handgun that was concealed in his boot and fired through the jail bars, striking Officer McDonough in the stomach. Officer McDonough was taken to his home where he succumbed to his wound the following day.

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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

149 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer McDonough served with the New Orleans Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New Orleans community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— 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 February 5, 1877

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Police Officer John McDonough 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