Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Frank Sowell was shot and killed following a car chase on US 521 approximately seven miles north of Lancaster. He and his partner had observed a suspicious vehicle sitting under a light at Main Street and Chesterfield Avenue at 1:30 am. When Patrolman Sowell's partner approached the vehicle and attempted to open the door it sped off. After several miles of pursuing the vehicle, it struck another car and ran off the road. As Patrolman Sowell approached it he was shot twice with a 12-gauge shotgun. The suspect fled but was later apprehended and sentenced to life in prison, where died in his 80s. The suspect had earlier escaped from the Caledonia Prison Farm in North Carolina while imprisoned for murder.
Survivors
Patrolman Sowell was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-ADA8247E- Stewardship
- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Sowell served with the Lancaster Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Lancaster community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Sowell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman B. Frank Sowell is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In SC, 272 of 441 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.7% of this state's fallen. That is 61.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Lancaster Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. B. Frank Sowell's cause is highlighted.
How B. Frank Sowell Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. B. Frank Sowell is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. B. Frank Sowell was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Lancaster Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
