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Incident
Guard Glenn Johnston was shot and killed as he attempted to capture an inmate who had escaped from the Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary.
The shot struck Guard Johnston in the hip. He was transported to a local hospital where he died two days later.
The inmate who shot him was convicted of his murder and later executed.
Guard Johnson was survived by his wife, daughter, and four sons.
Survivors
Guard Johnson was survived by his wife, daughter, and four sons.
In Our Keeping
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- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Guard Johnston served with the Tennessee Department of Correction.
Thank you for your service to the Nashville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Johnston.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Tennessee Department of Correction has lost 14 officers; 11 of them killed feloniously.
Glenn is one of 498 officers killed feloniously in TN, 64.8% of the 769 remembered there.
Glenn is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Glenn is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1937, 2 officers at Tennessee Department of Correction were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1937, 9 officers in TN were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 147 years on record. The heaviest was 1931, with 12.
In 1937, 123 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 41st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1937, 123 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 48th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Glenn was 32. Of the 10 killed feloniously at Tennessee Department of Correction whose age is recorded, half were between 36.3 and 55.3; the middle age was 42.5.
Glenn was 32. Of the 449 killed feloniously in TN whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 50; the middle age was 41.
Glenn was 32. 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.
Glenn was 32. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
October holds 9.1% of these deaths at Tennessee Department of Correction; August holds the most, 27.3%. Fridays: 36.4%.
October holds 6.6% of these deaths in TN; December holds the most, 10.2%. Fridays: 14.9%.
October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
October holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 78.6% of all 14 deaths at Tennessee Department of Correction, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 18.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 64.8% of all 769 deaths in TN, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 24.1% 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 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Tennessee Department of Correction has 14 officers remembered here, Glenn among them.
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S. A. Walden Apr 20, 1893
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Willoughby Howard Nelson Jul 27, 1894
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Joseph Lillard Simms
Mar 12, 1937
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Glenn E. Johnston
Oct 22, 1937
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William Lonnie Cox
Nov 9, 1951
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Ernest Simpson Massengill Dec 6, 1957
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Robert Burns
Feb 11, 1978
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Ronald W. Moore Aug 29, 1981
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Donald G. Gammons
Jul 2, 1984
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James Franklin McPeters
Jul 2, 1984
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Frederick Gayle Hyatt
Nov 8, 2003
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Wayne Thomas Morgan
Aug 9, 2005
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Debra Kay Porter-Johnson
Aug 7, 2019
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Dustin Pedigo
Feb 25, 2026
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 6-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from Tennessee Department of Correction are honored on badge.nw.
