Elmore Wilson

Burke County Sheriff's Office — Morganton, NC

Felonious

End of Watch February 16, 1931

Age 49

The Vigil Panel 61 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Deputy Wilson succumbed to gunshot wounds received almost one month earlier when he and other deputies raided a still in a rural section of Burke County. The suspect opened fire on the officers with a handgun, striking Deputy Wilson in the stomach. The suspect was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison but was paroled in 1938.

Survivors

Deputy Wilson was survived by his wife and seven children.

In Our Keeping

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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 Wilson served with the Burke County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Morganton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Wilson.

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

Agency

Department Burke County Sheriff's Office

Location Morganton, NC

Platform Identity bcso.burke.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 16, 1931

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to 25 years

Deputy Sheriff Elmore Wilson 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 NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Burke County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Burke County Sheriff's Office

of 4 officers

50% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious