John Brady Murphy
Agency patch
Special Agent

John Brady Murphy

Felonious
End of Watch September 26, 1953
Age 36
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
The Vigil Panel 89 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Special Agent John Murphy was shot and killed by a murder suspect in a movie theatre at 311 West Fayette Street in Baltimore, Maryland. The man had been traced to the theatre from a phone call he made to Los Angeles, California. As Agent Murphy and other agents attempted to arrest the man he opened fire killing Agent Murphy and wounding another agent. Other agents returned fire killing the suspect. The 32-year-old man had been released from Alcatraz Prison six months earlier after serving a sentence for bank robbery. Agent Murphy had served with the FBI for 13 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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.
Special Agent Murphy gave the United States Department of Justice 13 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Murphy.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdjfbifed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 26, 1953
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

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 1953, 72 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 98th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 36. 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 13 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

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

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation has 89 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Special Agent John Brady Murphy

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation · End of Watch September 26, 1953

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 31-E

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