Roll of Honor
Incident
Special Agent Alexander McGill was shot and killed near Elrod, Alabama while patrolling passenger train Number 103 between Artesia, Mississippi, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He encountered a railroad porter selling whiskey to passengers in a baggage car. The porter shot Agent McGill and then threw his body from the train onto the railroad bridge over Sipsey River in Alabama. The suspect was arrested and taken to Birmingham, Alabama, to avoid a lynching. The 40-year-old porter was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. In July of 1935, he was paroled for 12 months. In July of 1936, he was listed as an escapee when he failed to return to prison. In January 1937 word was received from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that he had died in a hospital there. Special Agent McGill had served with the Mobile and Ohio Railroad Police for five years and had previously served as the police chief of the Tuscaloosa Police Department for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-A8E561B3- 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 McGill gave the Mobile and Ohio Railroad Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Mobile community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent McGill.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent Alexander M. McGill 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 AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 8.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Mobile and Ohio Railroad Police Department, 4 of 4 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. Alexander M. McGill's cause is highlighted.
How Alexander M. McGill Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Alexander M. McGill is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Alexander M. McGill was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Mobile and Ohio Railroad Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
