Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Yarbrough succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained three days earlier on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad tracks behind the Richmond Locomotive and Machine Works in Richmond, Virginia.
Officer Yarbrough had been patrolling the area as a result of thefts from box-cars in the previous days.
While walking near a train, a man stepped from behind a box-car and shot Officer Yarbrough in the stomach. The suspect then fled the scene. Several neighbors who heard the shots took Officer Yarbrough to the Virginia Hospital where he died three days later.
Officer Yarbrough received his appointment only 10 months earlier.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three children, mother, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-CB2DD236- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
131 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Yarbrough served with the Henrico County Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer John H. Yarbrough is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 officers honored here.
In VA, 394 of 655 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.2% of this state's fallen. That is 6.3 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
At Henrico County Police Department, 5 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John H. Yarbrough's cause is highlighted.
How John H. Yarbrough Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John H. Yarbrough is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John H. Yarbrough was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Henrico County Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
