James W. Killingsworth
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

James W. Killingsworth

Felonious
End of Watch December 29, 1939
Age 32
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff James Killingsworth was shot and killed as he and other deputies attempted to arrest a man for several robberies committed in Titus County and Upshur County. The deputies located the man hiding underneath a bed that the man's mother was lying on. When the deputies ordered the man to come out he opened fire with a handgun, mortally wounding Deputy Killingsworth. The other deputies returned fire and killed the suspect.

Survivors

Deputy Killingsworth 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

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Killingsworth served with the Gregg County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Longview community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Killingsworth.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Longview, Gregg County, TX
Platform Identity gcso.gregg.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 29, 1939
Age 32
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

James is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 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 1939, 82 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 78th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 32. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

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

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Fridays: 14.3%.

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

Gregg County Sheriff's Office has 4 officers remembered here, James among them.

Deputy Sheriff James W. Killingsworth

Gregg County Sheriff's Office · End of Watch December 29, 1939

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 49-E

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