Ernest Wilson Walters Sr.
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Ernest Wilson Walters Sr.

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office — Winston-Salem, NC
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch February 23, 1966
Age 41
The Vigil Panel 101 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Ernest Walters was shot and killed while serving an eviction notice on a woman on West 14th Street in Winston-Salem. As he and two workers removed furniture from the home the woman opened fire on him with a 12-gauge shotgun as he walked from the back yard to the front door. The 41-year-old suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison. She was paroled December 31st, 1971. Deputy Walters was a WWII veteran and also served as a constable for Winston-Salem.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-39D6DB3A
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Walters served with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Winston-Salem community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, NC
Platform Identity fcso.forsyth.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 23, 1966
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun

Military Service

Ernest Wilson Walters Sr. served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Deputy Sheriff Ernest Wilson Walters 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 97,759 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 Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 44.4% of this agency's fallen.

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office
4
of 9 officers
44.4% Felonious
NC — Statewide
385
of 664 officers
58% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ernest Wilson Walters Sr.'s cause is highlighted.

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

How Ernest Wilson Walters Sr. Compares

Age at Death
41
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ernest Wilson Walters Sr. is highlighted in Feb.

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. Ernest Wilson Walters Sr. was killed by shotgun.

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

Incident Location

Military Service

Ernest Wilson Walters Sr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit Ernest Wilson Walters Sr.’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.