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John G. Finiello
Incident
Special Agent John Finiello was shot and killed while conducting a raid on a brewery in Elizabeth, New Jersey, with several other agents from the Philadelphia Office. The agents had taken three men prisoner in the brewery's boiler room when Arent Finiello walked away from the others to another room where he surprised seven gunman. One opened fire, killing Agent Finiello as he tried to return fire but his gun jammed. The suspects then escaped by jumping through windows in the brewery. One man, 26, was arrested in Philadelphia ten days later and returned to New Jersey where he was charged with murder. The suspect along with the other six were noted gangsters that were members of a gang out of Philadelphia. The suspect managed to post a $15,000 bail in December 1931. He and two others went to Philadelphia and shot and killed the gang's leader. On December 28, 1931, the suspect and one of the men with him were shot and killed by other members of the gang. Another member of the gang was arrested in 1933, charged with Agent Finiello's murder, then tried and acquitted. In 1934 others were apprehended and charged but a judge dismissed all the cases due to a lack of evidence.
Survivors
Agent Finiello was survived by his wife and two small children.
In Our Keeping
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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 Finiello served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Finiello.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition has lost 35 officers; 22 of them killed feloniously.
John is one of 754 officers killed feloniously in DC, 53.1% of the 1,419 remembered there.
John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
John 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 1930, 4 officers at United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 5 years on record. The heaviest was 1932, with 8.
In 1930, 20 officers in DC were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1930, 239 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1930, 241 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John was 40. Of the 19 killed feloniously at United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 40; the middle age was 35.
John was 40. Of the 580 killed feloniously in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 36.
John was 40. 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 was 40. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
September holds 13.6% of these deaths at United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition; July holds the most, 31.8%. Fridays: 27.3%.
September holds 7.4% of these deaths in DC; July holds the most, 11.7%. Fridays: 16.2%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
September holds 8.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 62.9% of all 35 deaths at United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 31.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.1% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 35% 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition has 35 officers remembered here, John among them.
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Dale F. Kearney
Jul 6, 1930
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Zaccheus Raymond Sutton
Aug 28, 1930
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John G. Finiello
Sep 19, 1930
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Mack Carroll Parsons Sep 20, 1930
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Asa Hawkins Dec 20, 1930
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Holmer L. Everett May 2, 1931
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Curtis C. Burks Jul 22, 1931
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Walter M. Gilbert
Jul 22, 1931
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John Irwin Wilson
Jul 22, 1931
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Raymond L. Ezzell
Jul 27, 1931
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Walter T. Creviston Jul 30, 1931
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George V. Trabing
Aug 19, 1931
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Lindsly P. Bulnes Jan 23, 1932
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Robert Mansfield Buck Feb 1, 1932
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Eugene Joseph Pearce
Feb 9, 1932
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Henry Harrison Jackson Apr 17, 1932
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Jack Elmer Kenford
Jun 14, 1932
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Eugene Jackson
Jul 31, 1932
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James G. Harney
Sep 23, 1932
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Ballard White Turner
Sep 29, 1932
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Howard Brooke Oursler Oct 12, 1932
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Ernest B. Vlasich
Oct 14, 1932
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Frank Allen Mather Oct 15, 1932
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Chester Arthur Mason
Nov 12, 1932
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William Theodore Balding
Nov 16, 1932
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Arthur James Sanderson
Dec 29, 1932
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William Smith Grubb
Mar 31, 1933
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Levi Gladstone Trexler Mar 31, 1933
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Leonard Agnew Welty
Apr 13, 1933
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Leroy Richard Wood Apr 16, 1933
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Harry Hampton Elliott
Jun 22, 1933
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Paul Albro Read
Jul 21, 1933
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Herman Sutton Barbrey Jan 5, 1934
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Parker Hittinger Hall Feb 3, 1934
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Herbert R. Johnson May 21, 1934
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 58-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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