Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer William Wurst and Patrolman Donald Aleshire, of the Mount Holly Police Department, were shot and killed by a sniper at the 200 block of Garden Street in Mount Holly. Mount Holly Officers were responding to a call about a man with a gun around 6:00 p.m. When Officer John Holmes and another officer arrived at the house, they approached from opposite sides, and the gunman fired at both of them, wounding Officer Holmes. Patrolman Aleshire approached the house in an unmarked patrol vehicle; he was shot as soon as he exited his vehicle. Officer Wurst was providing backup but was struck by gunfire while trying to take cover. One of the officers, who suffered a gunshot wound to the knee, was able to escape the gunfire and called for assistance. Officer Holmes of the Mount Holly Police Department was transported to the Burlington County Memorial Hospital, where the bullet severed his spine, rendering him paralyzed until he succumbed to his wounds 17 years later. The suspect was apprehended after barricading himself in the home for over three hours. The mother of the 23-year-old suspect said he thought he was back in Vietnam. In 1977, the suspect was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed. He was still institutionalized in 2021. Officer Wurst was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Hainesport Police Department for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents, sister, and twin brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NJ-DFBB3C10- 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 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.
Officer Wurst gave the Hainesport Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hainesport 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William C. Wurst served in the Army (1971â1974) before joining law enforcement.
Officer William C. Wurst 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 NJ, 264 of 646 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 40.9% of this state's fallen. That is 13.3 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William C. Wurst's cause is highlighted.
How William C. Wurst Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed to mental institution
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William C. Wurst is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William C. Wurst was killed by rifle.