Guard

James B. Sneed

Felonious
End of Watch July 6, 1931
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident

Guard Sneed was shot and killed by two prisoners using smuggled handguns during an escape attempt from the Retrieve Prison Farm (modern day Wayne Scott Unit) in Brazoria County.

As the two were being punished for misbehavior, they produced the pistols and demanded that Guard Sneed hand over his keys. The two opened fire on Guard Sneed as he reached for his pistol. Both of the prisoners were taken into custody. Both men were sentenced to life in prison.

Guard Sneed was survived by his mother, sister, and uncle.

Survivors

Guard Sneed was survived by his mother, sister, and uncle.

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.
Guard Sneed served with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
Thank you for your service to the Huntsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Sneed.

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

Agency

Type Corrections
Location Huntsville, Walker County, TX
Platform Identity tdcjcidcorr.walker.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 6, 1931
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
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.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

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.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 39. 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.

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%. Mondays: 13.8%.

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

Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division has at least 120 officers remembered here, James among them.

Across the years

Guard James B. Sneed

Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Correctional Institutions Division · End of Watch July 6, 1931

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 55-E

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