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Deputy U.S. Marshal

Herbert Ray

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch February 2, 1935

Age 37

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

The Vigil Panel 152 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 312

Incident

Deputy U.S. Marshal Herbert Ray was shot and killed in Lexington, Kentucky, while investigating rum-runners after he stopped them in their car near the intersection Fifth Street and Campbell Street. When he approached four men and a woman inside the vehicle, one man opened fire striking him in the abdomen. Despite the wound, he was able to return fire as the suspects sped away and then walked to a nearby store where he called for help. He succumbed to his wounds the following evening. Four suspects were later arrested. The gunman could not be found. Marshal Ray's return fire had hit one suspect, 20, in the arm, which had to be amputated. All four were charged with accessory to murder. On June 26, 1935, one was convicted of accessory to murder and sentenced to five years. Another man and the woman were acquitted. The suspect who lost his arm was later convicted of possession of illegal liquor and sentenced to one year. On July 13, 1935, the gunman, 23, was apprehended by federal officers in Michigan City, Indiana. The following February he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. He was paroled in December of 1944. Deputy Marshal Ray had served with the United States Marshals Service for only one year.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

You barely got started.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Ray gave the United States Department of Justice 1 year.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy U.S. Marshal Ray.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service

Type Federal Agency

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 2, 1935

Tour of Duty 1 yrs

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Herbert 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.

Compare against

Time

In 1935, 154 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 25th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Herbert was 37. 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. Herbert had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

February holds 7.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month

By day of the week

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