Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrol Officer David Thurman was shot and killed while he and the town marshal were questioning suspects about vehicle tampering. At 1:oo a.m., Officer Thurman and the city marshal were on patrol when they witnessed two men carrying a tire iron in the parking lot of Cooper's Market on Interstate 71. When they asked the men to provide identification, one of the men struck the marshal in the head with a crowbar, and a scuffle ensued. One of the men took Officer Thurman's gun and shot him twice in the head before fleeing. Two suspects were arrested. In 1993, one of the suspects who was charged with second-degree murder pleaded guilty to a Class C felony of stealing. The other suspect pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life without parole. Officer Thurman was one of four police officers, comprising two part-time and two full-time officers.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, parents, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-83D16B9B- 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.
Patrol Officer Thurman served with the Pineville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Pineville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Thurman.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrol Officer David Allen Thurman 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David Allen Thurman's cause is highlighted.
How David Allen Thurman Compares
Offender Outcome
Life without parole
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David Allen Thurman is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. David Allen Thurman was killed by handgun; .357 caliber.