Leo Joseph Ryan, Jr. (May 5, 1925November 18, 1978) was an American teacher and politician. He served as a U.S. Representative as a member of the Democratic Party. He represented California's 11th congressional district from 1973 until he was shot to death in Guyana by members of the Peoples Temple, shortly before the Jonestown mass suicide on November 18, 1978, just 11 days after Ryan's election to a fourth term. He is arguably the only sitting member of the U.S. House of Representatives to have been assassinated in office.