Incident
Officer Marchant was shot and killed from ambush by a suspect he had encountered earlier in the evening. During the previous encounter Officer Marchant informed the man, who was extremely drunk, to go home or he would be arrested. The man left the scene and Officer Marchant continued to walk his beat. When the suspect left the scene he went to his home and obtained a pistol. He returned to the corner of 6th Avenue and 7th Street and laid in wait for Officer Marchant to walk back into the area. When the officer walked past him the man stepped out and shot Officer Marchant in the upper body six times. Officer Marchant was taken to City Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds 5 days later. The suspect was arrested, convicted of murdering Officer Marchant, and sentenced to death. On April 12, 1912, the day before he was to have been executed, he committed suicide by taking poison. No one knew how he got the poison.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Marchant served with the Columbus Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Marchant.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Columbus Police Department has lost 26 officers; 19 of them killed feloniously.
Marion is one of 549 officers killed feloniously in GA, 60.7% of the 905 remembered there.
Marion is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Marion is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1911, 1 officer at Columbus Police Department was killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 14 years on record. The heaviest was 1896, with 3.
In 1911, 6 officers in GA were killed feloniously, the 20th heaviest of 149 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 16.
In 1911, 149 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 27th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1911, 150 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 33rd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
When
April holds 21.1% of these deaths at Columbus Police Department; October holds the most, 21.1%. Mondays: 10.5%.
April holds 9.3% of these deaths in GA; December holds the most, 10.6%. Mondays: 12.6%.
April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.
April holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 73.1% of all 26 deaths at Columbus Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 36.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 60.7% of all 905 deaths in GA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
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.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Columbus Police Department has 26 officers remembered here, Marion among them.
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Matthew W. Murphy
Dec 26, 1874
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Richard M. Adams Oct 14, 1896
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Charlie J. Roberts Oct 14, 1896
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William Jackson Oct 14, 1896
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N. G. Osborn Jan 31, 1901
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William S. Elliott Mar 27, 1901
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Marion Marchant Apr 17, 1911
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Nelson Harrison Gibson Sep 12, 1915
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Charles B. Harvey May 20, 1920
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James W. Stokes May 22, 1920
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William G. Pate Feb 5, 1921
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Ernest S. Evans Oct 25, 1935
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Harry C. Gibson
Apr 6, 1943
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Sumpter Burns Nov 6, 1946
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Jack E. Boone, Sr.
Feb 15, 1973
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Robert Gray Vining
Apr 21, 1976
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Billy Ray Watson, Sr.
Dec 28, 1976
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James Neal Bowers
Apr 4, 1979
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Thomas M. Bowen
Mar 11, 1984
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Clois Willard Lamb
Dec 12, 1989
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Shirley Denise Winston
Dec 31, 1990
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Sife Perdue
Jan 5, 1994
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Charles Edward Osborne, Jr.
Aug 8, 1994
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Robert Tyrone Kearse, Sr.
May 11, 2006
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Thomas Keith Slay
Jul 30, 2013
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Richard Arnold McMahan
Oct 13, 2021
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 47-W
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