Roll of Honor
Incident
Guard Henry Gearhart was shot and mortally wounded by an inmate at the Ohio Penitentiary in Columbus.
The inmate shot another guard through his shoulder and then shot and killed himself. No one knew how he got the revolver he used. The inmate was angry with Guard Gearhart because he had reported him for an infraction of prison rules, for which he lost special privileges for 30 days. The inmate was serving a 10-year sentence for a robbery and safe blowing conviction in Perry County in 1901.
Guard Gearhart, shot through both lungs, succumbed to his wounds four days later.
Guard Gearhart was survived by his wife and two children.
Survivors
Guard Gearhart was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-5675CD16- 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.
Guard Gearhart served with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Gearhart.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Guard Henry J. Gearhart 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, 18 of 26 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Henry J. Gearhart's cause is highlighted.
How Henry J. Gearhart Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Henry J. Gearhart is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Henry J. Gearhart was killed by handgun; revolver.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
25 officers from Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
