Roll of Honor
Willard Edward Vaughan
Incident
Lieutenant Willard Vaughan was shot and killed while responding to a silent alarm at a convenience store. Lieutenant Vaughan and another officer, and a deputy sheriff responded to the silent alarm at a convenience store. He drove past the scene and met with the deputy down the road. Lieutenant Vaughan and the deputy started driving back toward the crime scene with Lieutenant Vaughan's police vehicle in front. The deputy slowed down to look down a dirt road when he saw the brake lights of Lieutenant Vaughan's police vehicle come on. Lieutenant Vaughan exited his vehicle, and the deputy stated that he saw a tremendous amount of gunfire. One of the two suspects ran in front of Lieutenant Vaughan's vehicle and opened fire at close range. Lieutenant Vaughan was hit four times and the suspect one time. The deputy pulled up, and the suspect shot at the deputy, hitting his vehicle. The deputy then shot and hit the suspect a second time. The two subjects were arrested at the scene. A third suspect was arrested hours later in Emporia, Virginia. Lieutenant Vaughan's killer, 18, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on September 19, 1977. He was still in prison on June 15, 2023. Lieutenant Vaughan had served with the Roanoke Rapids Police Department for 21 years and was planning to retire in three months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-6CBC468C- 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. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Willard is one person.
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Tributes
21 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Vaughan gave the Roanoke Rapids Police Department 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Roanoke Rapids community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Vaughan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Willard Edward Vaughan served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1943â1946) before joining law enforcement.
Lieutenant Willard Edward Vaughan 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 97,772 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 Roanoke Rapids Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Willard Edward Vaughan's cause is highlighted.
How Willard Edward Vaughan Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Willard Edward Vaughan is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Willard Edward Vaughan was killed by gun.
Military Service
Willard Edward Vaughan served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1943–1946) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Willard Edward Vaughan’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Roanoke Rapids Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
