Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Lauer was shot and killed in McCandless Township near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as he and a deputy transported a prisoner to the Western Penitentiary. During the drive near the intersection of Perry Highway and Pine Creek Road the suspect was able to grab Sheriff Lauer's .38 caliber service revolver. The sheriff then jumped into the backseat in an attempt to regain control of his weapon and subdue the prisoner. During the struggle the suspect shot Sheriff Lauer in the abdomen. The deputy was able to stop the vehicle and attempted to aid Sheriff Lauer, but was chased away from the scene by the suspect. The suspect fled on foot but was turned himself in 12 hours later during a massive manhunt. He was being taken to Western Penitentiary to serve a 4 to 10 year sentence for armed robbery. The 50-year-old suspect had been in New York and Pennsylvania prisons for the past 19 years. He was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death on May 20, 1960. Three years later he was awarded a new trial and sentenced to life. He was denied clemency on May 8, 1973. Sheriff Lauer had served with the Northumberland County Sheriff's Office for 16 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his grandmother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-AC26AB0F- Stewardship
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- 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.
Sheriff Lauer gave the Northumberland County Sheriff's Office 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Sunbury community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Lauer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff James Rufus Lauer 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 PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Rufus Lauer's cause is highlighted.
How James Rufus Lauer Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Rufus Lauer is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Rufus Lauer was killed by officer's handgun.