James H. Benton

Fayetteville Police Department — Fayetteville, NC

Felonious

End of Watch February 22, 1908

Age 52

The Vigil Panel 22 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 9

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

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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

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

Department Fayetteville Police Department

Location Fayetteville, NC

Platform Identity fpd.cumberland.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 22, 1908

Age 52

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed

Chief of Police James H. Benton 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 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 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

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.

Fayetteville Police Department

of 10 officers

70% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious