Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sam Payne succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained as he and his brother attempted to arrest a man wanted on a warrant for shooting his gun several days earlier. When the deputies arrived at the man's home in Peeryville the suspect opened fire, striking Deputy Payne in the stomach.
The suspect, recently released from prison after serving a term for murder, was never apprehended.
Deputy Payne was taken to his parents' home where he succumbed to his wound two days later.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WV-189A452A- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Payne served with the McDowell County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Welch community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Payne.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Sam Payne 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 WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At McDowell County Sheriff's Office, 12 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Sam Payne's cause is highlighted.
How Sam Payne Compares
Offender Outcome
At large
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Sam Payne is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Sam Payne was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from McDowell County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
