Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

Earley Edward Blount, Sr.

Isle of Wight County Sheriff's Office — Isle of Wight, VA

Felonious

End of Watch November 8, 1969

Age 62

The Vigil Panel 106 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Earley Blount was killed in an automobile accident while in pursuit of a man wanted for traffic violations. During the pursuit the suspect forced Deputy Blount's patrol car off of the road and into a tree, causing fatal injuries. The 21-year-old driver was charged with murder and several traffic violations. On September 26, 1970, he was sentenced to 10 years. Deputy Blount was the first black sheriff's deputy in Isle of Wight County and received the position after serving as a special police officer for one year.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-26AF7456
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

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

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

Agency

Department Isle of Wight County Sheriff's Office

Location Isle of Wight, VA

Platform Identity iwcso.isleofwight.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 8, 1969

Age 62

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile

Offender Sentenced to 10 years

Deputy Sheriff Earley Edward Blount, Sr. is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

Isle of Wight County Sheriff's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Earley Edward Blount, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Earley Edward Blount, Sr. Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 10 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Earley Edward Blount, Sr. is highlighted in Nov.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Earley Edward Blount, Sr. was killed by automobile.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518