R. Sheldon Jones
Agency patch
Chief of Police

R. Sheldon Jones

Shelby Police Department — Shelby, NC
Felonious
End of Watch August 4, 1901
The Vigil Panel 17 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Chief of Police Sheldon Jones was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant on a man for serving liquor without a license at a gambling establishment near the South Carolina and Georgia Extension Railroad. The suspect fled on foot and opened fire on Chief Jones as soon as he saw him. One of the rounds struck Chief Jones in the lung. Despite being wounded, the chief continued chasing the subject and was able to catch him. During the ensuing struggle, the man fired again, striking Chief Jones in the chest, killing him. Despite a nationwide manhunt, the suspect was never apprehended.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-5CCE4D64
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.
Chief of Police Jones served with the Shelby Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Shelby community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Jones.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Shelby, Cleveland County, NC
Platform Identity spd.cleveland.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 4, 1901
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Chief of Police R. Sheldon Jones 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 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 58 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Shelby Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Shelby Police Department
3
of 3 officers
100% Felonious
NC — Statewide
385
of 664 officers
58% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. R. Sheldon Jones's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How R. Sheldon Jones Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. R. Sheldon Jones is highlighted in Aug.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. R. Sheldon Jones was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Shelby Police Department are honored on badge.nw.