Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Bernard Puryear and Police Officer Malcolm Tuck, of the Clarksville Police Department, were shot and killed while raiding a still three miles east of Clarksville. Both officers were transported to a hospital in Oxford, North Carolina, where they succumbed to their wounds. The suspect was originally sentenced to death, but the sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court of Appeals. He was sentenced to 20 years at a second trial.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-66335E2A- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Puryear served with the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Boydton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Puryear.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Bernard A. Puryear Sr. 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 VA, 394 of 656 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.1% of this state's fallen. That is 60.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Bernard A. Puryear Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Bernard A. Puryear Sr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Bernard A. Puryear Sr. is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Bernard A. Puryear Sr. was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
