Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman James Marshburn was shot and killed by an escaped convict on I-95 five miles north of Lumberton. He and another patrolman came upon two escapees walking down the southbound lane a short distance from a stolen car they had just abandoned. As the officers exited their patrol car, both escapees opened fire with .45 caliber pistols. In an exchange of shots, Patrolman Marshburn was shot three times in the stomach, and one escapee was killed. The other convict dropped his gun and ran into the nearby woods. Patrolman Marshburn died at the hospital 90 minutes later. The suspects had escaped from a prison work detail in Raleigh. They used stolen guns taken earlier when they broke into a National Guard building. The other escapee was captured four hours after the shooting when bloodhounds flushed him out of the woods. He had been sentenced to prison in 1953 for armed robbery, motor vehicle theft, and felony breaking and entering. He received an additional 35 years for Trooper Marshburn's murder. He was released from prison on May 2, 1991. Patrolman Marshburn had only served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol for less than two months. He is survived by his mother and three sisters. In 2025, a bridge on North Carolina 130 over Interstate 95 was renamed the Patrolman James H. Marshburn Bridge in his honor.
Survivors
He is survived by his mother and three sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-FEF46D7A- 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.
Patrolman Marshburn served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of North Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Marshburn.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman James Hugh Marshburn 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 North Carolina Highway Patrol, 23 of 69 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Hugh Marshburn's cause is highlighted.
How James Hugh Marshburn Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Hugh Marshburn is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Hugh Marshburn was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
68 officers from North Carolina Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
