John C. James
Agency patch
Police Officer

John C. James

Houston Police Department — Houston, TX
Felonious
End of Watch December 11, 1901
Age 34
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 17 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer James and Police Officer Herman Youngst were shot and killed near the intersection of San Jacinto Street and Congress Street by a suspect seeking revenge for being arrested the previous day. As the officers were on their patrol the man grabbed a shotgun and shouted at the officers. As Officer James approached him the man shot him. As Officer Youngst attempted to take cover he was also shot. The suspect then went over to Officer Youngst and struck him with the shotgun. Officer James, who was wounded in the street, was able to return fire and kill the suspect before succumbing to his wounds. Officer James had served with the Houston Police Department for three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four children.

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.
Police Officer James gave the Houston Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer James.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Houston, Harris County, TX
Platform Identity hpd.harris.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 11, 1901
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1901, 90 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 66th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 34. 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. John had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

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 shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Houston Police Department has 117 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer John C. James

Houston Police Department · End of Watch December 11, 1901

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 5-E

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