R. Edgar Williams
Agency patch
Policeman

R. Edgar Williams

Wingate Police Department — Wingate, NC
Felonious
End of Watch March 21, 1917
Age 39
The Vigil Panel 32 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Policeman Edgar Williams was shot and fatally wounded by a man he attempted to arrest. He was carried to a hospital in Charlotte where he died from a gunshot wound to the stomach four days later.

The suspect was apprehended and executed in the electric chair on May 25th, 1917.

Policeman Williams was survived by his wife and three children.

Survivors

Policeman Williams was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-D67B7135
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.
Policeman Williams served with the Wingate Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Wingate community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Williams.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Wingate, Union County, NC
Platform Identity wpd.union.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 21, 1917
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Policeman R. Edgar Williams 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%.

Wingate Police Department
1
of 1 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. Edgar Williams's cause is highlighted.

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

How R. Edgar Williams Compares

Age at Death
39
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. R. Edgar Williams is highlighted in Mar.

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. Edgar Williams was killed by gun; unknown type.

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

0 officers from Wingate Police Department are honored on badge.nw.