Clayton Kirby Woods
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Clayton Kirby Woods

Felonious
End of Watch June 15, 1971
The Vigil Panel 108 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Woods was killed while serving papers to a man in the Gray Court area. Two other deputies were also shot. There had been no conversation between the deputies and the suspect before he suddenly opened fire.

The gunman escaped from the rear of the house into a heavily wooded area after police lobbed tear gas into the house.

The suspect was killed while deputies were trying to apprehend him.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-EEFA766D
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 Clayton. Claim this record.

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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Woods served with the Laurens County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Laurens community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Woods.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Laurens, Laurens County, SC
Platform Identity lcso.laurens.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 15, 1971
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Deputy Sheriff Clayton Kirby Woods 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 Laurens County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Laurens County Sheriff's Office
3
of 6 officers
50% Felonious
SC — Statewide
272
of 441 officers
61.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Clayton Kirby Woods's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Clayton Kirby Woods Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Clayton Kirby Woods is highlighted in Jun.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Clayton Kirby Woods was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909