Incident
Deputy Sheriff Onus Hall was shot and mortally wounded after responding to a disturbance call at 9:00 p.m. on Fayetteville Road in Durham. Deputy Hall and two other officers were called to the home after a subject threatened his family with a gun. When Deputy Hall stepped out of his vehicle, the subject, who was hiding in the bushes, fired at the officers, striking Deputy Hall. A state trooper returned fire, killing the subject. Deputy Hall was transferred to Watt's Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds two days later. Deputy Hall had served with the Durham County Sheriff's Office for nine years. He was hired as a deputy after his brother, Deputy Willie Hall, was shot and killed on October 18, 1929, while searching for illegal whiskey about a mile from the location where Deputy Onus Hall was shot.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-5E19C4AF- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Onus. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Hall gave the Durham County Sheriff's Office 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Durham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Hall.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Onus Young Hall 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 Durham County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Onus Young Hall's cause is highlighted.
How Onus Young Hall Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Onus Young Hall is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Onus Young Hall was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Durham County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.



