George Washington Nuckolls
Agency patch
Town Sergeant

George Washington Nuckolls

Coeburn Police Department — Coeburn, VA
Felonious
End of Watch March 8, 1919
Age 43
The Vigil Panel 36 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Town Sergeant George Nuckolls was shot and killed by the brother of a woman he had just placed in jail. He had arrested the woman following a domestic violence incident in which she had shot at her husband.

After Town Sergeant Nuckolls placed her in the police department's jail cell, her brother immediately opened fire, killing him.

The suspect, who was a police officer in Bristol, Tennessee, fled the scene. He was arrested several days later in Hazard, Kentucky.

Town Sergeant Nuckolls was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

Survivors

Town Sergeant Nuckolls was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-F905064F
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew George. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Town Sergeant Nuckolls served with the Coeburn Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Coeburn community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Town Sergeant Nuckolls.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Coeburn, Wise County, VA
Platform Identity cpd.wise.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 8, 1919
Age 43
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Town Sergeant George Washington Nuckolls 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 VA, 394 of 656 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.1% of this state's fallen. That is 60.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Coeburn Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Coeburn Police Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
VA — Statewide
394
of 656 officers
60.1% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George Washington Nuckolls's cause is highlighted.

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

How George Washington Nuckolls Compares

Age at Death
43
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George Washington Nuckolls is highlighted in Mar.

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. George Washington Nuckolls was killed by handgun.

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

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Coeburn Police Department are honored on badge.nw.