John L. Bailey
1942 - 1990
On June 25, 1990, Special Agent John L. Bailey was fatally wounded during an attempted robbery of a Las Vegas, Nevada, bank. Special Agent Bailey, who was serving a subpoena in the bank, heard a teller scream. The teller told Special Agent Bailey that the man who had just left her window had a gun and attempted to rob her. Special Agent Bailey drew his weapon, identified himself as an FBI agent, and ordered the bank robber to stop. As the man turned with a gun in his hand, Special Agent Bailey fired one shot, which struck the front glass door. The robber dropped his gun. Special Agent Bailey frisked the robber and placed him on a chair. However, Special Agent Bailey's attention was apparently diverted and the bank robber lunged at Special Agent Bailey, knocking the agent's gun out of his hand. The bank robber recovered his own weapon and shot Special Agent Bailey three times.
Special Agent Bailey was born in November 1942 in Massachusetts. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and served with the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam, during which he was decorated with two Bronze stars. In 1969, he entered on duty with the FBI and was eventually assigned to several field offices, including Louisville, New York, and Las Vegas.