James Joseph McConkey
Agency patch
Police Officer

James Joseph McConkey

Fayetteville Police Department — Fayetteville, NC
End of Watch December 3, 1977
Age 25
The Vigil Panel 119 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer James McConkey was shot and killed in downtown Fayetteville after a suspect was able to gain control of his service weapon. Officer McConkey was on foot patrol as a result of a recent rash of burglaries in the area. He approached three suspicious men and a struggle ensued in which he was shot. The 26-year-old subject turned himself in the following morning. The suspect was convicted of manslaughter and armed robbery and sentenced to life. The suspect, who has 155 infractions including escape, was still in prison on June 11, 2023. His release date is in 2054. Officer McConkey was a U.S. Army veteran.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, parents, and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-145CC54E
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer McConkey served with the Fayetteville Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Fayetteville community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Fayetteville, Cumberland County, NC
Platform Identity fpd.cumberland.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 3, 1977
Age 25
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Military Service

James Joseph McConkey served in the the United States military (1971–1974) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer James Joseph McConkey 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 97,759 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.

Fayetteville Police Department
7
of 10 officers
70% Felonious
NC — Statewide
385
of 664 officers
58% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Joseph McConkey's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How James Joseph McConkey Compares

Age at Death
25
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Joseph McConkey is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Joseph McConkey was killed by officer's handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Military Service

James Joseph McConkey served in the U.S. Army (1971–1974) before joining law enforcement.

Visit James Joseph McConkey’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.