Terry Lee Lanier
Agency patch
Patrol Officer

Terry Lee Lanier

Jacksonville Police Department — Jacksonville, NC
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch May 11, 1979
Age 24
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 121 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrol Officer Terry Lanier was stabbed to death while attempting to arrest a mentally disturbed man brandishing a knife near Briynn Marr Road and Western Boulevard in Jacksonville. As Officer Lanier approached the suspect from behind, he observed the knife and attempted to warn the other officers. However, the suspect immediately turned around and slashed Officer Lanier in the throat, severing his jugular vein. Officer Lanier was pronounced deceased upon arrival at Onslow Memorial Hospital at 11:15 a.m. Other officers on the scene opened fire on the suspect, wounding him. The suspect was found incompetent to stand trial and committed at Dorothea Dix Mental Hospital in Raleigh. Officer Lanier was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the Jacksonville Police Department for three years. He was survived by his parents. His uncle also served with the Jacksonville Police Department at the time of his murder.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-ACE5C49F
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. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Terry 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.
Patrol Officer Lanier gave the Jacksonville Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jacksonville 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

Type Police Department
Location Jacksonville, Onslow County, NC
Platform Identity jpd.onslow.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 11, 1979
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 24
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Edged weapon

Military Service

Terry Lee Lanier served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrol Officer Terry Lee Lanier 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 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 58 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Jacksonville Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Jacksonville Police Department
2
of 2 officers
100% Felonious
NC — Statewide
385
of 664 officers
58% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Terry Lee Lanier's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Terry Lee Lanier Compares

Age at Death
24
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
3
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Terry Lee Lanier is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Terry Lee Lanier was killed by edged weapon.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location

Military Service

Terry Lee Lanier served in the U.S. Air Force before joining law enforcement.

Visit Terry Lee Lanier’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Jacksonville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.