Roll of Honor

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Constable

John W. Stafford

Avery County Constable's Office - Elk Park Precinct — Newland, NC

Felonious

End of Watch April 6, 1922

The Vigil Panel 42 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Constable John Stafford was shot and killed after being attacked by several subjects inside a store in Minneapolis, North Carolina.

Several drunk men called him into the store. As he entered he was attacked and beaten with tobacco cutter. As he staggered out of the store one of the men fatally shot him.

The man fled to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was arrested later in the month. He was returned to Avery County where he was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Constable Stafford served with the Avery County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Newland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Stafford.

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

Agency

Department Avery County Constable's Office - Elk Park Precinct

Type Other

Location Newland, NC

Platform Identity accoeppco.avery.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 6, 1922

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Constable John W. Stafford 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%.

Avery County Constable's Office - Elk Park Precinct

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,772 officers

0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John W. Stafford's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

1 (0%)

Accident

1 (0%)

Illness

1 (0%)

Cardiac

1 (0%)

Undetermined

1 (0%)

Suicide

1 (0%)

How John W. Stafford Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John W. Stafford is highlighted in Apr.

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. John W. Stafford was killed by handgun.

Handgun

3,684

Gun

3,592

Gun; Unknown type

1,492

Shotgun

1,109

Rifle

935

Officer's handgun

909

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Avery County Constable's Office - Elk Park Precinct are honored on badge.nw.