Roll of Honor

Prev Next

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

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NC-595DEDAD
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.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

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

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

Offender Sentenced to 10 years

Constable John W. Stafford 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%.

Avery County Constable's Office - Elk Park Precinct

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% 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

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How John W. Stafford Compares

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to 10 years

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

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

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.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518