Keith Ellsworth
Lieutenant

Keith Ellsworth

Charleston Police Department — Charleston, SC
Felonious
End of Watch October 6, 1944
Age 58
The Vigil Panel 81 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Lieutenant Ellsworth was shot and killed at 0415 hours when he and other officers interrupted a burglary in progress at an auto shop on Meeting Street. As the officers approached the suspect opened fire, striking him in the chest. The suspect was never identified.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-84AA36A9
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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.
Lieutenant Ellsworth served with the Charleston Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Charleston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Ellsworth.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Charleston, SC
Platform Identity cpd.charleston.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 6, 1944
Age 58
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Lieutenant Keith Ellsworth 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 SC, 272 of 441 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.7% of this state's fallen. That is 61.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Charleston Police Department, 12 of 24 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Charleston Police Department
12
of 24 officers
50% Felonious
SC — Statewide
272
of 441 officers
61.7% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Keith Ellsworth's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Keith Ellsworth Compares

Age at Death
58
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Keith Ellsworth is highlighted in Oct.

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. Keith Ellsworth was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909