Roll of Honor
H. Carl Keith
Incident
Camp Superintendent Carl Keith was shot and killed during an escape attempt by nine inmates from the State Prison Highway Construction Camp in Yancey County.
Three inmates escaped before a guard at the camp was able to retrieve Superintendent Keith's pistol from his pocket and prevented six others from escaping.
Two of the three escapees were captured and charged with first-degree murder. The third escapee, suspected of being the shooter, was killed in a gun battle near Asheville.
Superintendent Keith was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Superintendent Keith was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-C7B009CF- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Camp Superintendent Keith served with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.
Thank you for your service to the people of North Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Camp Superintendent Keith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Camp Superintendent H. Carl Keith 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 97,756 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 North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice, 13 of 31 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 41.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. H. Carl Keith's cause is highlighted.
How H. Carl Keith Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. H. Carl Keith is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. H. Carl Keith was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
30 officers from North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
