End of Watch June 5, 1986
Age 37
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Correctional Officer Randall Cupp was killed when he attempted to break up a dispute while off duty at the parking lot of the Royal's Package Store on NC 16 in Wilkesboro. A civilian approached Officer Cupp and told him that she had been assaulted around 11:00 p.m. Officer Cupp responded to the scene and attempted to calm the dispute. One of the people involved in the dispute had a brother who was incarcerated at the correctional facility where Officer Cupp worked, and he recognized him. The subject hit Officer Cupp in the head six times with a car jack, killing him. The 22-year-old suspect, who had a long list of misdemeanor and felony convictions, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on November 17th, 1986. A new trial was ordered, and he was again convicted of first-degree murder but sentenced to life on August 11th, 1989. Officer Cupp was a United States Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran and had served with the North Carolina Division of Prisons for seven years, assigned to the Alexander Correctional Center.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, mother, three sisters, and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtpctytssjqzfwd19f1cc
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Randall. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Randall is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Correctional Officer Cupp gave the North Carolina Department of Public Safety 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of North Carolina, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Type Corrections
Location Raleigh, Wake County, NC
Platform Identity ncdpsdacjjdps.wake.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 5, 1986
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 37
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Blunt object

Military Service

Randall Clayton Cupp served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1966–1975) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Randall is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 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 1986, 98 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 54th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Randall was 37. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Randall had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object, in 1.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has 31 officers remembered here, Randall among them.

Correctional Officer Randall Clayton Cupp

North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice · End of Watch June 5, 1986

Military Service

Randall Clayton Cupp served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1966–1975) before joining law enforcement.

Visit Randall Clayton Cupp’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 13-W

Also Remembered

salute.nw →

↑