Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff William Cole was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant on a man in the Red Banks area of the county.
When Deputy Cole located the man walking along a roadway he called out to him and informed he had a warrant to arrest him. When the man asked Deputy Cole to read the warrant, Deputy Cole tucked his rifle under his arm and started to read it. The man then drew a concealed pistol and shot Deputy Cole in the head, killing him.
As Deputy Cole lay on the ground the man shot him again in the chest before walking away.
The suspect was later arrested in June 1881 in Marlboro County, South Carolina and held until he could be returned to North Carolina.
I enlisted in the United States Coast Guard and carried on our law enforcement family history. 1995-1999 Ryan Nabors
Ryan Nabors, Veteran USCG related to Mr. Cole March 16th, 2020
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
147 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Cole served with the Robeson County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Lumberton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff William Cole 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 Robeson County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Cole's cause is highlighted.
How William Cole Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Cole is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Cole was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Robeson County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
