James H. Black
Agency patch
Sheriff

James H. Black

Felonious
End of Watch November 16, 1884
Age 35
Tour of Duty
The Vigil Panel 8 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sheriff Black was shot and killed after winning a hotly contested election for Sheriff two weeks earlier. The incumbent sheriff and two deputies helped a prisoner escape with the understanding that the prisoner would kill the sheriff-elect. The suspect went to Sheriff Black's house where he killed him. The incumbent sheriff and the two deputies were charged with murder. The escapee was later found dead.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-5F9E7652
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

142 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Black served with the Lamar County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Paris community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Location Paris, TX
Platform Identity lcso.lamar.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 16, 1884
Tour of Duty
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Convicted of murder

Sheriff James H. Black 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 Lamar County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Lamar County Sheriff's Office
4
of 4 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. James H. Black'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 H. Black Compares

Age at End of Watch
35
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Convicted of murder

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James H. Black is highlighted in Nov.

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 H. Black was killed by gun; unknown type.

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