Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Jailer Horry Fish was shot and killed during a prison escape at the jail located on Third Street and Edmond Street in St. Joseph.
At 5:00 p.m., a jailer opened the doors to serve the inmates their dinner, leaving Deputy Jailer Fish to guard the outer doors. When the jailer was inside, he was immediately jumped by two inmates before Deputy Jailer Fish could lock the main door. Inmates locked the jailer inside one of the cells and began to escape. Deputy Jailer Fish ran upstairs to retrieve a gun while the jailer's wife shot one of the escapees who was helping the inmates flee. Despite being struck by a bullet, the inmate hit her over the head with a billet of wood before she could fire another shot. Deputy Jailer Fish returned downstairs and shot the inmate in the shoulder, but the inmate had procured a gun and returned fire, mortally wounding Deputy Jailer Fish. The inmate then fell over, dying from his two gunshot wounds.
Eighteen inmates escaped. Fifteen escapees were apprehended and sentenced within the following two years.
Deputy Jailer Fish was survived by his parents and siblings. One of his brothers was the sheriff of the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office when he was killed.
Survivors
Deputy Jailer Fish was survived by his parents and siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-5C3FB14F- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
158 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Jailer Fish served with the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the St. Joseph community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Jailer Horry Marion Fish is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 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 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Buchanan County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Horry Marion Fish's cause is highlighted.
How Horry Marion Fish Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Horry Marion Fish is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Horry Marion Fish was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Buchanan County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
