Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Holmes was shot and killed while making his nightly rounds in National, Nevada. He encountered an intoxicated man terrorizing citizens with a rifle. As he attempted to disarm and arrest the man he was shot in the chest.
The Humboldt County Sheriff was notified of the incident the next morning and immediately drove to National and arrested the suspect. He returned the suspect to Winnemucca due to threats of a lynching by the citizens of National.
The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. In July of 1912 he escaped form the Nevada Penitentiary. He was captured in Kingman, Arizona, in January of 1913. He was paroled in 1918. On March 5, 1919, he was killed instantly when he got his arm caught in an engine he was working on.
Deputy Holmes was the only law enforcement officer in the area of National.
Rest in peace knowing that even 110 years later no passage of time will ever erase your service and sacrifice.
Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo Delaware State Police (Retired) August 27th, 2020
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-NV-F2B74A25- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Holmes served with the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Winnemucca community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Holmes.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John Holmes 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 NV, 81 of 145 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.9% of this state's fallen. That is 1.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 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. John Holmes's cause is highlighted.
How John Holmes Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1918
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Holmes is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Holmes was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Humboldt County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
