Ray Cunningham
Incident
Location: Kansas Weapon: Handgun Offender: Convicted of murder
Special Agent Ray Cunningham was shot and killed as he and two other San Francisco Railroad detectives confronted four transients on a train near Beaumont Junction, Kansas.
When the transients refused to close one of the boxcar doors, Agent Cunningham attempted to close it. As he did so, one of the men produced a handgun and shot him in the neck.
The shooter jumped off of the train but the other three men remained in the boxcar until the train stopped in Augusta, Kansas, where the three were arrested. The shooter was arrested a short time later at the Keighley Depot by the Keighley city marshal and two railroad detectives. He was convicted of murder by a coroner's jury the following day.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-367BACB3- 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.
Special Agent Cunningham served with the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Cunningham.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent Ray Cunningham 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 MI, 426 of 718 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59.3% of this state's fallen. That is 5.1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Police Department, 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ray Cunningham's cause is highlighted.
How Ray Cunningham Compares
Offender Outcome
Convicted of murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ray Cunningham is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ray Cunningham was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
