Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Allen Pearson was shot and killed as he and other members of the agency's Special Response Unit attempted to apprehend a suspect who had murdered a woman the previous day in a rural area of Craven County.
Deputies had responded to the scene after receiving reports of a man shooting a gun on a wooded path. When they arrived, they found the vehicle of the murder victim parked nearby. The suspect was located in the woods, where he was firing his rifle. The suspect refused to surrender and fired at the deputies.
The Lenoir County Sheriff's Department SRU was dispatched to the scene and located the suspect with the help of a North Carolina Highway Patrol helicopter. As the officers approached to take him into custody, the suspect opened fire with his rifle, which led to a gun battle in which Detective Pearson was fatally wounded and a second detective suffered a gunshot wound to his neck.
The suspect was shot several times by deputies and died from his wounds.
Deputy Pearson had served with the Lenoir County Sheriff's Department for eight years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-21CC6114- 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.
Detective Pearson gave the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Kinston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Pearson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Rickie Allen Pearson, Jr. 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Rickie Allen Pearson, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Rickie Allen Pearson, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Rickie Allen Pearson, Jr. is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Rickie Allen Pearson, Jr. was killed by rifle.