James Reedy Booth
Agency patch
Special Officer

James Reedy Booth

Felonious
End of Watch August 30, 1922
Age 23
The Vigil Panel 43 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Location: South Carolina Weapon: Shotgun Offender: Arrested

Special Officer Jasper Booth and Special Officer Eugene Feaster were beaten, stabbed, and shot to to death while patrolling the Southern Railroad's Hamburg shops in Aiken, South Carolina, at approximately 5:00 am.

Both officers had been patrolling the secluded roadway leading from the Augusta-Aiken Highway to the railroad's shops when they were ambushed by a group of men near a footbridge. Both officers were shot repeatedly, stabbed, beaten with clubs and kicked.

Officer Feaster was killed at the scene. Officer Booth pretended to be dead during the incident. A railroad worker found them a short time later. Officer Booth was taken to a hospital in Augsuta where he was able to make a statement before dying.

Several subjects were arrested and charged in connection with their murders.

Officer Booth was survived by his parents.

Survivors

Officer Booth was survived by his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-E3B43345
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 Officer Booth served with the Southern Railway Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Officer Booth.

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

Agency

Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity srpd.rr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 30, 1922
Age 23
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Shotgun
Offender Arrested

Special Officer James Reedy Booth 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Southern Railway Police Department, 17 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 94.4% of this agency's fallen.

Southern Railway Police Department
17
of 18 officers
94.4% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,419 officers
53.1% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Reedy Booth's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How James Reedy Booth Compares

Age at End of Watch
23
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Arrested

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Reedy Booth is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Reedy Booth was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location