James William Nunalee Sr.

Wilmington Police Department — Wilmington, NC

Felonious

End of Watch April 4, 1978

Age 24

The Vigil Panel 119 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 11

Incident

Officer James Nunalee was ambushed and killed as he exited a convenience store. He had just signed the log book in the store and was leaving when two masked men opened fire on him, striking him 21 times with a semi-automatic rifle. The two then stole his service revolver and fled. Although police suspected a particular husband and wife team of the robbery/murder, there was never enough evidence to arrest them. The case remained unsolved for 24 years, until the suspects' son, who was in prison on drug and weapons charges, came forward to tell Wilmington police that his parents were responsible for Officer Nunalee’s murder. That statement, along with other evidence collected over the years, led police to finally close the case. Investigators believe the husband shot Officer Nunalee as his wife stood by, refusing to shoot.

Survivors

Officer Nunalee was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NC-9A619C7B
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.
Officer Nunalee served with the Wilmington Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Wilmington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Nunalee.

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

Agency

Department Wilmington Police Department

Type Other

Location Wilmington, New Hanover County, NC

Platform Identity wpd.newhanover.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 4, 1978

Age 24

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle

Officer James William Nunalee Sr. 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 Wilmington Police Department, 4 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

Wilmington Police Department

of 12 officers

33.3% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious