John Carlie Reeves
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

John Carlie Reeves

Felonious
End of Watch September 17, 1928
Age 33
The Vigil Panel 56 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff John Reeves was shot and killed when asking a subject to leave a dance in Malakoff.

Around 1:15 a.m., Deputy Reeves asked the subject to leave the building. Without warning, the subject pulled a pistol and shot Deputy Sheriff Reeves in the head, killing him instantly. The subject left the scene of the shooting but returned a short time later and surrendered to the Henderson County Constable.

While being transported to the county jail in Athens, the car was intercepted by a group of men. The constable was pulled out of the car, and two of the men shot the subject seven times, killing him instantly. Neither the constable nor the man driving the vehicle was injured by the gunfire. The identity of the men who shot the subject was not known to the constable or the driver.

Deputy Reeves was survived by his wife and three small children.

Survivors

Deputy Reeves was survived by his wife and three small children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-46265AE8
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.
Deputy Sheriff Reeves served with the Henderson County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Athens community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Reeves.

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

Agency

Location Athens, TX
Platform Identity hcso.henderson.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 17, 1928
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun
Offender Killed by mob

Deputy Sheriff John Carlie Reeves 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Henderson County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Henderson County Sheriff's Office
5
of 5 officers
100% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,463
of 2,421 officers
60.4% 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. John Carlie Reeves'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 John Carlie Reeves Compares

Age at End of Watch
33
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Killed by mob

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Carlie Reeves is highlighted in Sep.

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. John Carlie Reeves was killed by handgun.

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