Roll of Honor
Rufus Frank Looper III
Incident
Lieutenant Rufus Looper was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious person at his father's garage on Pendleton Street in Greenville. Lieutenant Looper, who was off-duty, went to his father's garage after his father contacted him and told him there was a suspicious person inside the business. As Lieutenant Looper entered the building, he was shot once in the head. He died the following morning at Greenville Memorial Hospital. Lieutenant Looper's father was also shot by the suspect, dying from his wounds four hours later. The subject was arrested and sentenced to death, but the sentence was later commuted to life in prison. He was later paroled in 2010. Lieutenant Looper was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-2C1E8BA6- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Navy. One record, 2 gates. Rufus is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Lieutenant Looper gave the Greenville County Sheriff's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Greenville community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Rufus Frank Looper III served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.
Lieutenant Rufus Frank Looper III 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 97,759 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 61.6 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Greenville County Sheriff's Office, 14 of 17 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 82.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Rufus Frank Looper III's cause is highlighted.
How Rufus Frank Looper III Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Rufus Frank Looper III is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Rufus Frank Looper III was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Rufus Frank Looper III served in the U.S. Navy before joining law enforcement.
Visit Rufus Frank Looper III’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Greenville County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
