Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Terry Lyles was shot and killed by a man he had arrested who had managed to conceal a .22 caliber handgun in his underwear when searched. As Officer Lyles drove the suspect to headquarters, he opened fire, while still handcuffed, from the backseat of the patrol car, striking Officer Lyles in the back of his bullet-proof vest twice. After wrecking into an embankment, the suspect shot Officer Lyles in the head as he fled from his patrol car. The suspect, an ex-convict, 43, who was released from prison in 1984 after serving seven years for manslaughter, was apprehended and sentenced to death. He was later awarded a new trial and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole on April 8th, 1994. As of June 9, 2023, he was in prison. Officer Lyles had served in law enforcement for just over 2-1/2 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, parents, two brothers, two sisters, and a stepdaughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-A2420BD6- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Lyles gave the Charlotte Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Charlotte community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Lyles.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Milus Terry Lyles 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%.
At Charlotte Police Department, 13 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Milus Terry Lyles's cause is highlighted.
How Milus Terry Lyles Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Milus Terry Lyles is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Milus Terry Lyles was killed by handgun; .22 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Charlotte Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
