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James R. Gross
Agency patch
Trooper

James R. Gross

Ohio State Highway Patrol — Columbus, OH
Felonious
United States flag Ohio flag
End of Watch January 19, 1996
Age 27
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 142 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 41

Incident

Trooper James Gross was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Ashland on I-71. A truck driver had noticed a car driving erratically and contacted the police via CB. During the stop, Trooper Gross was shot once in his left arm. As he attempted to take cover, he slipped on the wet pavement and fell to the ground. The suspect shot him in the back as he lay on the ground. The round entered below his vest and traveled upwards through his torso. Other truckers who witnessed the shooting used their CB radios to notify authorities of the incident. The suspect was apprehended when he crashed into an embankment following a 29-mile chase. The ensuing investigation determined that the suspect had previously shot his mother in the foot. The 30-year-old suspect was initially sentenced to death. In 2005 his death sentence was commuted to life. He will be eligible for parole in June of 2044. Trooper Gross had served with the Ohio State Highway Patrol for 2 years. He was survived by his wife. A portion of Interstate 71 in Ashland County, between mileposts 189 and 191, has been dedicated and renamed the James R. Gross Memorial Highway.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

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.
Trooper Gross gave the Ohio State Highway Patrol 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Ohio. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Gross.

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

Agency

Department Ohio State Highway Patrol
Type Highway Patrol
Location Columbus, OH
Platform Identity oshp.oh.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 19, 1996
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 27
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.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1996, 79 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 86th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 27. 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. James had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. 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

Ohio State Highway Patrol has 42 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years

Trooper James R. Gross

Ohio State Highway Patrol · End of Watch January 19, 1996

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 24-E

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