Pete Pescatore

McDowell County Sheriff's Office — Welch, WV

Felonious

End of Watch May 14, 1929

Age 38

The Vigil Panel 57 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 12

Incident

Deputy Pete Pescatore succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained nine days earlier while attempting to quell a disturbance at Leckie.

Deputy Pescatore, who also owned a service station in Anawalt, had gone to Leckie on a business trip when he was informed that a group of men were drinking and causing a disturbance. He went to the location to tell them to quiet down and disperse but was attacked by the group.

One of the men disarmed him and then shot him in the abdomen, inflicting a fatal wound. He was transported to a hospital in Welch where he remained until succumbing to the wound nine days later.

The shooter was arrested, convicted of first degree murder, and sentenced to life. Two years later his conviction was overturned and he received a second trial. He was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 5 years in prison.

Deputy Pescatore was survived by his wife and five children. He was buried in Pocahontas, Virginia.

Survivors

Deputy Pescatore was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WV-EBA0D5AC
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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 Pescatore served with the McDowell County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Welch community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Pescatore.

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

Agency

Department McDowell County Sheriff's Office

Location Welch, WV

Platform Identity mcso.mcdowell.wv.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 14, 1929

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to 5 years

Deputy Sheriff Pete Pescatore 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At McDowell County Sheriff's Office, 12 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.3% of this agency's fallen.

McDowell County Sheriff's Office

of 13 officers

92.3% Felonious

WV — Statewide

169

of 232 officers

72.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious