Roll of Honor
Incident
City Marshal Samuel Ledford was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a person for being drunk and disruptive in Gobler.
At approximately 4:00 pm, Marshal Ledford responded to a disturbance complaint. He had previously arrested the subject, who was drunk and disruptive, on multiple occasions for the same charge. As he was getting out of his car and approaching the house, the suspect pulled a .45 caliber handgun and fired five shots. Two of the bullets struck him in the chest, and one in the neck. Marshal Ledford was able to fire back, but the suspect was uninjured. Marshal Ledford was transported to Presnell Hospital, where he later died of his injuries.
The suspect surrendered to the Dunklin County Sheriff's Office. The jury could not agree on the second-degree murder charge. He was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to three years in prison.
Marshal Ledford was a World War II veteran. In addition to serving as the City Marshal, he also served as a deputy sheriff with the Dunklin County Sheriff's Office.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-9D9C4A8B- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
City Marshal Ledford served with the Gobler Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Bragg City community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Samuel Ledford served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
City Marshal Samuel Ledford 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. Samuel Ledford's cause is highlighted.
How Samuel Ledford Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to three years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel Ledford is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel Ledford was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.