Roll of Honor
Joseph Walton Price
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Joseph Price was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious vehicle near the intersection of Highway 215 and U.S. 321 in West Columbia.
Deputy Price was driving home at the end of his shift when he noticed a suspicious vehicle parked on the side of the road. As he approached the vehicle he encountered the suspect who was intoxicated and attacked Deputy Price with a knife. The man then drew a weapon and shot him several times.
Despite being mortally wounded, Deputy Price was able to return fire and then drive to the parking lot of a nearby business to summon help to his location.
The suspect remained at large for seven years. He was arrested in 1960, convicted of Deputy Price's murder, and sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled in 1972.
Deputy Price had served with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department for one month and previously served with the South Carolina Highway Patrol for seven years. He was a United States Army veteran of WWII.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-2B3AABB1- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Price gave the Lexington County Sheriff's Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lexington community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Joseph Walton Price served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff Joseph Walton Price 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Lexington County Sheriff's Dept., 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Walton Price's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Walton Price Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1972
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Walton Price is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Walton Price was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Lexington County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
