Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Marcus Whitfield was shot and killed while he and two other deputies were attempting to break up a fight outside of a Waffle House restaurant on Roper Mountain Road in Greenville.
When the deputies responded to the fight, they witnessed a man firing a handgun into the ground and a second person being beaten by others. The man who was firing into the ground dropped his gun and attempted to flee. The deputies recovered the gun and struggled with the suspect. The other suspects then fled, got into a car, and began to leave the scene. Before doing so, they struck one deputy with the car, and an individual inside the car opened fire on the deputies.
Deputy Whitfield was struck in the base of the skull and killed. A second deputy was hit in the shoulder and wounded but was able to return fire, striking the vehicle. The suspects in the vehicle were captured later in the day and charged with murder. Both suspects were 19 years old.
The suspect, who was free on bond, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Charges against another suspect in the car were dropped. A third suspect, who was on probation, was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Deputy Whitfield had served with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office for three years.
Survivors
He is survived by his parents and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-207336E8- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Whitfield gave the Greenville County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Greenville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Whitfield.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Marcus Lyman Whitfield 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 Greenville County Sheriff's Office, 14 of 17 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 82.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Marcus Lyman Whitfield's cause is highlighted.
How Marcus Lyman Whitfield Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Marcus Lyman Whitfield is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Greenville County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
