John Leslie McDonald

Steubenville Police Dept. — Steubenville, OH

Felonious

End of Watch January 7, 1908

Age 40

The Vigil Panel 22 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Patrolman John McDonald was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest a man for creating a disturbance. During the ensuing struggle, Patrolman McDonald was shot in the forehead and killed. The suspect was arrested a short time later. The 52-year-old suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. He was granted a new trial and sentenced to life. He died in the Lima State Mental Hospital on October 9, 1918. Patrolman McDonald had served with the Steubenville Police Department for only a few months. He was survived by his two brothers. He is buried at Union Cemetary, Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio.

Survivors

He was survived by his two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-OH-B3CFDA69
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.
Patrolman McDonald served with the Steubenville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Steubenville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman McDonald.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Steubenville Police Dept.

Location Steubenville, OH

Platform Identity spd.jefferson.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 7, 1908

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Offender Sentenced to life

Patrolman John Leslie McDonald 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 Steubenville Police Dept., 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Steubenville Police Dept.

of 6 officers

66.7% Felonious

OH — Statewide

572

of 991 officers

57.7% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious