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Deputy Sheriff

L. C. Hilton

Polk County Sheriff's Office — Columbus, NC

Felonious

End of Watch March 26, 1905

The Vigil Panel 20 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Sheriff L. C. Hilton was shot and killed by a man he had arrested for carrying concealed weapons.

When taken before a magistrate, the suspect bolted from the deputy and escaped. Deputy Hilton pursued and fired at the suspect. The suspect returned fire killing him.

The 19-year-old suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 14 years in prison in October of 1905. He was pardoned by Governor William W. Kitchen on April 18, 1912.

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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.
Deputy Sheriff Hilton served with the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Hilton.

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

Agency

Department Polk County Sheriff's Office

Location Columbus, NC

Platform Identity pcso.polk.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 26, 1905

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Pardoned in 1912

Deputy Sheriff L. C. Hilton 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%.

Polk County Sheriff's Office

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. L. C. Hilton'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 L. C. Hilton Compares

Offender Outcome

Pardoned in 1912

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. L. C. Hilton is highlighted in Mar.

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. L. C. Hilton was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518