Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff John Young was shot and killed in Windom by a man whom he had previously arrested.
He and the man had been close friends up until the time Sheriff Young arrested him several months earlier. The man then made statements that he would kill Sheriff Young.
Sheriff Young and another man were driving on the highway and were flagged down by the subject in front of the general store he operated at his home. As the two spoke the man suddenly placed a revolver against Sheriff Young's abdomen and shot him six times. Despite being mortally wounded, Sheriff Young returned fire and killed the subject.
Sheriff Young was serving his second two-year term as sheriff.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and 2-year-old child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-A801099A- 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.
Sheriff Young gave the Yancey County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Burnsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Young.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff John Talmage Young 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 Yancey County Sheriff's Dept., 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Talmage Young's cause is highlighted.
How John Talmage Young Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Talmage Young is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Talmage Young was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Yancey County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
