Randall Clayton Cupp
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
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Randall Clayton Cupp served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1966â1975) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has lost 31 officers; 13 of them killed feloniously.
Randall is one of 385 officers killed feloniously in NC, 58% of the 664 remembered there.
Randall is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Randall is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1986, 1 officer at North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 2017, with 4.
In 1986, 1 officer in NC was killed feloniously, the 94th heaviest of 127 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 12.
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.
In 1986, 112 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 52nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Randall was 37. Of the 13 killed feloniously at North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice whose age is recorded, half were between 33 and 49; the middle age was 43. Randall had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 4.5 years.
Randall was 37. Of the 370 killed feloniously in NC whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 39. Randall had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
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.
Randall was 37. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Randall had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
June holds 23.1% of these deaths at North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice; October holds the most, 23.1%. Thursdays: 38.5%.
June holds 9.9% of these deaths in NC; May holds the most, 11.4%. Thursdays: 16.1%.
June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
June holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 41.9% of all 31 deaths at North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object, in 53.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 58% of all 664 deaths in NC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object, in 2.9% of these deaths.
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.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object, in 1.1% of these deaths.
His people
North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has 31 officers remembered here, Randall among them.
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J. C. Freeman Sep 18, 1915
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Thomas Peter Sale Jan 28, 1916
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A. D. Spivey Aug 30, 1928
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Ernest B. Hux Aug 30, 1934
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James S. Chesser Dec 28, 1939
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H. Carl Keith May 25, 1945
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George S. Bowman Mar 4, 1947
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Kermit Dale Jackson Jul 21, 1960
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Earl Cranston Strickland Jun 2, 1969
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Randall Clayton Cupp
Jun 5, 1986
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Leslie John Besci Jun 28, 1992
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David Michael Anthony
Oct 27, 1998
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Shannon Cuddington Smith
Nov 9, 1999
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Edward Ashley Pounds
Jan 9, 2010
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William Lee Wright
Apr 11, 2012
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Keith DeCarlo Smith
Dec 1, 2012
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Meggan Lee Callahan
Apr 26, 2017
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Justin James Smith
Oct 12, 2017
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Veronica Skinner Darden
Oct 12, 2017
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Wendy Letitia Shannon
Oct 30, 2017
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Allen Bruce Trivett
Oct 10, 2020
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Michael Robert Flagg
Oct 26, 2020
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Charles Warren Harris, Jr.
Oct 28, 2020
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Thomas Daniel Roberts, Jr.
Nov 16, 2020
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Joseph Lloyd Greinke
Nov 20, 2020
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Christopher Eugene Sorrenti
Nov 30, 2020
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Julian Arsenio Priest, III
Dec 24, 2020
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Anthony Lynn Hardie
Feb 6, 2021
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Ledell Graham
Aug 30, 2021
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Dennis Eugene Boykin
Oct 12, 2021
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Helen Mae Smith
Feb 3, 2022
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
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
30 officers from North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















