Roll of Honor
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
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-596A1BB4- 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 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Elmore Wilson 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 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 58 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Elmore Wilson's cause is highlighted.
How Elmore Wilson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Elmore Wilson is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Elmore Wilson was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Burke County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
