Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police James Benton was shot and killed near his back door while investigating a report from a woman that a man was trying to kill her. Chief Benton and his family were about to sit down and eat dinner at their home on the corner of Grove Street and Barges Lane when a woman ran into the chief's home and told him that the suspect, who had been drinking, was trying to kill her. Chief Benton immediately put his pistol into his pocket and grabbed his cap. When he had walked only five feet from his back door, the suspect, who had been hiding in the stable behind the Benton home, came running toward the chief and shot him in the face before Benton had time to draw his pistol. The suspect was wounded by Chief Benton's son and was later arrested, convicted of murder, and hanged.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and eight children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-F30DD3DE- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Chief of Police Benton served with the Fayetteville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Fayetteville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Benton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police James H. Benton 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 Fayetteville Police Department, 7 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James H. Benton's cause is highlighted.
How James H. Benton Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James H. Benton is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James H. Benton was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Fayetteville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
