Robert Andrew Pettigrew
Agency patch
Dispensary Constable

Robert Andrew Pettigrew

Felonious
End of Watch July 13, 1895
Age 20
The Vigil Panel 13 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Dispensary Constable Bob Pettigrew succumbed to gunshot wound sustained two weeks earlier as he and other constables attempted to arrest several bootleggers who were transporting several barrels of whiskey.

The constables had received a tip that the men would be transporting the whiskey into Spartanburg. After checking the area for several nights, they located the wagon in the area of Pisgah Church and stopped it at approximately 1:00 am on June 28th, 1895. The two occupants feigned surrender then attempted to grab their Winchester rifles. The constables opened fire, killing both men.

Constable Pettigrew and a second constable were both struck by gunfire during the exchange. The other constable recovered from his wounds but Constable Pettigrew succumbed to his wounds on July 3rd, 1895.

Constable Pettigrew was survived by his wife and mother.

Survivors

Constable Pettigrew was survived by his wife and mother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-C85775BD
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

131 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Dispensary Constable Pettigrew served with the South Carolina State Dispensary Commission.
Thank you for your service to the Columbia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Location Columbia, SC
Platform Identity scsdc.richland.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 13, 1895
Age 20
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Shot and killed

Dispensary Constable Robert Andrew Pettigrew 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At South Carolina State Dispensary Commission, 9 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

South Carolina State Dispensary Commission
9
of 9 officers
100% Felonious
SC — Statewide
271
of 438 officers
61.9% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Andrew Pettigrew's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Robert Andrew Pettigrew Compares

Age at End of Watch
20
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Andrew Pettigrew is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Andrew Pettigrew was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location