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John Irwin Wilson
Incident
Special Agent John Wilson and Special Agent Walter Gilbert were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man during an undercover operation in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The agents had arranged with the man to meet at a bridge at 8:00 pm for the delivery of liquor. When the suspect arrived he suspected he was being setup and opened fire, striking Agent Wilson four times and killing him instantly. Agent Gilbert was struck once in the back and succumbed to his wounds at a local hospital. The suspect was also shot and wounded and taken into custody one hour later. The suspect, 35, was charged with two counts of murder. He had been released from Leavenworth six months earlier after serving 15 months for violating the prohibition act. He was to be tried for each agent separately; Agent Gilbert first. At trial the suspect claimed the agents fired first. His attorney claimed entrapment. On November 18, 1931, he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced from 2 to 19 years. He was never tried for Agent Wilson's murder. He was paroled on November 30, 1934.
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Agent Wilson served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Wilson.
— 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, 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 1931, 5 officers at United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition were killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 5 years on record. The heaviest was 1932, with 8.
In 1931, 8 officers in DC were killed feloniously, the 26th heaviest of 159 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 20.
In 1931, 221 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1931, 222 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John was 33. 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 33. Of the 580 killed feloniously in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 36.
John was 33. 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 33. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
July holds 31.8% of these deaths at United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 18.2%.
July holds 11.7% of these deaths in DC, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 15.4%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
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 handgun, in 40.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.1% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 19.6% 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
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 30-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
34 officers from United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
