Roll of Honor
Incident
Policeman Carter was shot and killed with his own gun while attempting to observe illegal gambling. He was known as an officer who targeted gambling. While hiding himself in some woods to observe a crap game, two brothers located him and shot him in the heart with his own weapon. Both brothers were arrested and charged with murder. One was convicted of murder and sentenced to 9 years two months later. Before preparations could be made to transport him to the penitentiary he escaped from the Martinsville Jail. He was the only prisoner in the jail that night and the jailer had stepped away for a few minutes. When he returned he found his cell door wide open and the prisoner gone. No one could understand how he got out because the cell keys were kept far away from the cells. Rumor soon spread throughout Martinsville that he did not escape but was forcibly taken from the jail and killed for murdering Policeman Carter. The mystery was solved on December 3, 1930, when he was captured in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was returned to the Martinsville Jail and days later was transferred to the Virginia Penitentiary to serve his 9 year sentence.
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Policeman Carter served with the Martinsville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Martinsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Carter.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Policeman George Fountain Carter is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 officers honored here.
In VA, 394 of 655 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.2% of this state's fallen. That is 6.3 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George Fountain Carter's cause is highlighted.
How George Fountain Carter Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George Fountain Carter is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George Fountain Carter was killed by officer's handgun.