Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Roger Rice was shot and killed as he and other deputies searched for a 38-year-old murder suspect at approximately 11:55 pm.
Officers from the Fountain Inn Police Department had requested assistance from the sheriff's office to locate the man, who had just murdered his girlfriend. Deputies and officers located the man near his home on Barrel Stave Road in Clinton. As they attempted to take him into custody, he opened fire, fatally wounding Deputy Rice. Other officers on the scene returned fire and wounded the subject before taking him into custody.
The man was subsequently sentenced to two life terms in prison. He died from a heart attack in prison January 15, 2018.
Deputy Rice had served with the Laurens County Sheriff's Office for 18 months.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-ED4D1061- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Deputy Sheriff Rice gave the Laurens County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Laurens community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Rice.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Roger Dale Rice, Jr. is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 officers honored here.
In SC, 271 of 440 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.6% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
At Laurens County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Roger Dale Rice, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Roger Dale Rice, Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Roger Dale Rice, Jr. is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Roger Dale Rice, Jr. was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Laurens County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
