Roll of Honor
Incident
Guard J.T. McAteer was shot and killed with his own service weapon at the Lancaster County Prison Camp during an escape attempt by an inmate.
He had allowed two prisoners into the guard shack to use the telephone. One of the inmates grabbed his .22 caliber pistol and shot him in the chest three times, killing him. The inmate then shot at the other prisoner, but did not hit him.
The suspect fled from the prison and forced a woman to drive him from the area. The man turned himself in 90 minutes after the shooting. He had only served one week of a 30-day sentence for public drunkenness when he murdered Guard McAteer.
The 25-year-old man was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 50 years in prison. He was released in 2007, but was re-arrested after making death threats at a county building.
Guard McAteer had served as a part-time guard at the prison camp for 1 year. He is survived by his parents, four sisters, and three brothers. His father also served as a part-time guard at the prison camp.
Survivors
He is survived by his parents, four sisters, and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-5272A123- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Guard McAteer gave the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Lancaster community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard McAteer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Guard J. T. McAteer is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Lancaster County Sheriff's Dept., 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. J. T. McAteer's cause is highlighted.
How J. T. McAteer Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. J. T. McAteer is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. J. T. McAteer was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Lancaster County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
