Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable J.T. Kemp was shot and killed as he and several other officers attempted to arrest a man wanted on a warrant.
The man had threatened two others with an axe several days earlier as they were working in nearby woods. One of the victims obtained a warrant. Constable Kemp and the other officers went to the man's home 13 miles west of Brooksville and two miles from the Winston County line.
When they arrived at the home the man's wife ran out of the house. Constable Kemp and another officer entered the one-room home and were immediately fired upon by the man who was hiding in an attached shed. The shot struck Constable Kemp in the face, killing him.
The man was shot and wounded by a citizen as he fled the scene. He was arrested the following day and turned over to deputies. As the deputies attempted to take him to the county jail they were halted by a mob of citizens forcibly removed the prisoner from their custody and shot him to death.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MS-AD3BA4B7- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew J.. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable Kemp served with the Noxubee County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Macon community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Kemp.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable J. T. Kemp 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 MS, 242 of 349 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.3% of this state's fallen. That is 15.1 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. J. T. Kemp's cause is highlighted.
How J. T. Kemp Compares
Offender Outcome
Lynched
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. J. T. Kemp is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. J. T. Kemp was killed by gun; unknown type.