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Brian M. Graft
Agency patch
Detective

Brian M. Graft

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department — St. Louis, MO
Felonious
United States flag Missouri flag
End of Watch May 6, 1969
Age 25
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 105 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 175

Incident

Detective Brian Graft was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend a shooting suspect at 1300 North Tenth Street. He and another officer were working an off-duty security job when they heard the shooting call on the radio. The subject shot and wounded a hotel manager and fled. Shortly thereafter, they spotted a man meeting the description enter the lot where they were working, and they went to investigate. As they approached, the man produced a .25 caliber handgun and shot Detective Graft in the chest and his partner in the leg. Both officers returned fire and struck the suspect in the arm, but he fled on foot. A truck driver in the area also tried to apprehend the man but was shot and killed. Responding officers engaged the suspect in another gun battle. The suspect surrendered after shooting another officer. He was charged with first-degree murder. In 1971, he was acquitted of both murders by reason of insanity and committed to the State Hospital. Detective Graft had served with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his mother and grandmother.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Graft gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Graft.

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

Agency

Department St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department
Type Police Department
Location St. Louis, City of Saint Louis, MO
Platform Identity stlopd.saintlouis.mo.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 6, 1969
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 25
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Brian is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1969, 124 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 40th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Brian was 25. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Brian had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Brian among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Brian M. Graft

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch May 6, 1969

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 36-W

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