Roll of Honor
John Thomas Burnette
Incident
Officer John Burnette and Officer Anthony Nobles were shot and killed after a foot chase with a suspect. The officers had stopped a suspicious van in an apartment complex. The suspect fled on foot into the woods surrounding the complex. When the officers entered the woods, the suspect attacked them and was able to disarm Officer Burnette. He then shot both officers. The officers were transported to Carolinas Medical Center by responding officers, where both were pronounced dead on arrival. The 32-year-old suspect was arrested nearby after a brief manhunt involving over 700 officers from various local, state, and federal agencies in North Carolina and South Carolina. He was later convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. Officer Burnette had served with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for two and a half years. He is survived by his mother, stepfather, and sister. The city of Charlotte named a park and two streets in honor of Officer Burnette and Officer Nobles.
Survivors
He is survived by his mother, stepfather, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-E79448DD- 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.
Police Officer Burnette gave the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Charlotte community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Burnette.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer John Thomas Burnette 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 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, 5 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Thomas Burnette's cause is highlighted.
How John Thomas Burnette Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Thomas Burnette is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Thomas Burnette was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
