Gurney Royall

Winston-Salem Police Department — Winston-Salem, NC

Felonious

End of Watch August 1, 1941

Age 36

Tour of Duty 3 yrs 11 mo

The Vigil Panel 78 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 18

Incident

Patrolman Gurney Royall was shot and killed with his own service weapon after he and his partner responded to a disturbance call at Third Street and Church Street. The suspect was able to gain control of Patrolman Royall's weapon and fired it five times. The last shot struck Patrolman Royall in the head. The suspect was taken into custody by Patrolman Royall's partner and other officers. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death September 11, 1941. His sentence was commuted to life January 28, 1942. On January 1, 1957, his sentence was reduced to 39 years.

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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.
Patrolman Royall gave the Winston-Salem Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Winston-Salem community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Royall.

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

Agency

Department Winston-Salem Police Department

Type Other

Location Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, NC

Platform Identity wpd.forsyth.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 1, 1941

Tour of Duty 3 yrs 11 mo

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Patrolman Gurney Royall 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 Winston-Salem Police Department, 10 of 19 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 52.6% of this agency's fallen.

Winston-Salem Police Department

of 19 officers

52.6% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious