Deputy U.S. Marshal

Samuel Lilly

Felonious
End of Watch July 29, 1924
Age 47
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
The Vigil Panel 47 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Marshal Lilly and Officer Leon George, of the Wilmington, North Carolina, Police Department, were shot and killed after being ambushed at about 1900 hours at approximately 15 miles from Wilmington. The two were returning for a liquor still raid when they were attacked as the crossed a creek. Both officers and Officer George's dog were shot at close range and killed. Four suspects were apprehended. Two of them were father and son and executed for the murders on the same day.

Survivors

Deputy Marshal Lilly had been with the agency for seven years and 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

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Lilly gave the United States Department of Justice 7 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy U.S. Marshal Lilly.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 29, 1924
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 47
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Samuel is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 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 1924, 225 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Samuel was 47. 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. Samuel had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service has at least 120 officers remembered here, Samuel among them.

Across the years

Deputy U.S. Marshal Samuel Lilly

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service · End of Watch July 29, 1924

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-W

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