Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Gohagan was shot and killed while he and a local magistrate transported two prisoners to jail. They stopped a truck containing six men to question them about a traffic violation when one of the occupants opened fire. Constable Gohagan was killed and the magistrate was critically wounded. One of the prisoners reported the shooting and a large manhunt was undertaken to locate the suspects. A posse apprehended the suspects in a nearby woods. The shooter was shot and mortally wounded. He died at the South Carolina Penitentiary two months later. The other five suspects were released.
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BO-US-SC-B1DAD5A9- Stewardship
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- 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.
Constable Gohagan served with the Estill Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Estill community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Gohagan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Kenneth Leroy Gohagan 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Kenneth Leroy Gohagan's cause is highlighted.
How Kenneth Leroy Gohagan Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Kenneth Leroy Gohagan is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Kenneth Leroy Gohagan was killed by gun; unknown type.