James Bourland

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

Felonious

End of Watch May 24, 1906

The Vigil Panel 50 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 312

Incident

Deputy Marshal Bourland was shot and killed by a man he had arrested the previous day and with whom he also had previous encounters. The suspect and Deputy Marshal Bourland encountered each other in a saloon in Anadarko, Oklahoma, early the following morning. The suspect immediately drew his gun and shot Deputy Marshal Bourland in the stomach. Deputy Marshal Bourland was able to return fire and shot the suspect in the leg. Both men were taken to a local doctor's office where Deputy Marshal Bourland died the following morning. The suspect had his leg amputated and also died the following day. Deputy Marshal Bourland also served as a deputy sheriff for the Caddo County, Oklahoma, Sheriff's Department.

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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Bourland served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy U.S. Marshal Bourland.

— 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 May 24, 1906

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James 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 1906, 89 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 69th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month

By day of the week

III

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