Roll of Honor
Incident
Night Policeman Samuel Brothers was shot and killed by a man who had been threatening him for the previous two weeks after Policeman Brothers arrested him for liquor law violations. Policeman Brothers was in a post office and was called over to the man's car when he came out of the building. When he approached the car the man shot him with a shotgun. The subject was apprehended, convicted of second degree murder, and sentenced to 30 years in prison. He was paroled July 20th, 1951.
Survivors
Policeman Brothers was survived by his wife and 12 children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-70355E51- 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.
Night Policeman Brothers served with the Burgaw Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Burgaw community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Night Policeman Brothers.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Night Policeman Samuel Joshua Brothers, Sr. 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. Samuel Joshua Brothers, Sr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Samuel Joshua Brothers, Sr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled in 1951
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel Joshua Brothers, Sr. is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel Joshua Brothers, Sr. was killed by shotgun.