Roll of Honor
Incident
City Marshal James Ryan and Night Watchman James Basham were shot and killed, and another officer was wounded, while escorting a man to the Hotel Estes, located at South Holden Street and Grover Street, at 8:30 p.m. Night Watchman Basham responded to reports of a man waving a gun at the hotel. He tried to persuade the man to give him his gun or put it away. When Marshal Ryan and another night watchman entered the room, the man became agitated. Marshal Ryan attempted to grab the weapon, and the man fired, striking Marshal Ryan in the stomach and neck. He died instantly. The other night watchman was shot in the thigh. Night Watchman Basham was hit in his side with the bullet passing through his body. He succumbed to his wounds the next day. The hotel porter grabbed a gun and returned fire. When a bullet struck the suspect, he ran upstairs and shot himself. Marshal Ryan had been elected marshal three years earlier.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-BA97EADD- 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.
City Marshal Ryan gave the Warrensburg Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Warrensburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, City Marshal Ryan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal James Ryan 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 Warrensburg Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Ryan's cause is highlighted.
How James Ryan Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Ryan is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Ryan was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Warrensburg Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
