Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Shea, Detective Thomas, and Detective James McCluskey were shot and killed while attempting to arrest two armed robbery suspects wanted for robbing an Illinois Central train. After several months of investigation the detectives received a tip from a prison guard that he thought three ex-inmates were responsible for the robbery. Five detectives went to arrest the suspects in a house on Pine Street where the Soldier's Memorial is currently located. As they approached they encountered one of the suspects and took him into custody. Two of the detectives took this suspect to the station as the other three proceeded into the home. As the detectives entered a darkened room they were ambushed by the other two suspects. Following a five-minutes shootout the detectives and both suspects were fatally wounded. The suspect who was apprehended was sentenced to 27 years in prison. On November 24, 1905, he helped stage a prison revolt in which Officer John Clay and Officer Ephriam Allison, of the Missouri Department of Corrections, were killed. He along with two other inmates were convicted of murder and hanged on June 27, 1907.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-047DF098- 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.
Detective Shea served with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Shea.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective John J. Shea 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, 112 of 176 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John J. Shea's cause is highlighted.
How John J. Shea Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John J. Shea is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John J. Shea was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
175 officers from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
