Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff John Griffith was shot and killed while responding to a fight call at the intersection of 20th Street and Long Street in Chattanooga.
He and another deputy had been notified of the fight and split up in an attempt to locate the disturbance in a building at the location. The other deputy encountered a man in a hallway and attempted to stop him. The man ran into the street and then shot at the deputy who followed him.
Deputy Griffith heard the shots and came out of the building from another entrance to assist the other deputy. As he entered an adjacent yard the man opened fire, striking Deputy Griffith in the leg, which severed an artery. Deputy Griffith was taken to a local hospital where he died.
The suspect, 22, was apprehended, convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. The Tennessee Supreme Court ordered a new trial that resulted in a second degree murder conviction and 20 years in prison.
Deputy Griffith had served with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office for one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-1C50072E- 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
You barely got started.
Deputy Sheriff Griffith gave the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Chattanooga community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Griffith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff John A. Griffith 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, 12 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John A. Griffith's cause is highlighted.
How John A. Griffith Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 20 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John A. Griffith is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John A. Griffith was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Hamilton County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
