Zack C. Ramsey
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Zack C. Ramsey

Felonious
End of Watch October 2, 1942
Age 54
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 79 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Zack Ramsey was shot and killed by a man he attempted to arrest at his home in Murphy for failure to submit to vaccination.

Deputy Ramsey managed to return fire, wounding the suspect. The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life on April 2, 1943.

Deputy Ramsey had served with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office for eight years and previously served as Sheriff for two years. His father had also served as the Sheriff of the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three sons, one daughter, four brothers, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-6139D427
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Zack. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Ramsey gave the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Murphy community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Ramsey.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Murphy, Cherokee County, NC
Platform Identity ccso.cherokee.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 2, 1942
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Rifle; .22 caliber

Deputy Sheriff Zack C. Ramsey 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 Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office
5
of 5 officers
100% Felonious
NC — Statewide
385
of 664 officers
58% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Zack C. Ramsey's cause is highlighted.

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

How Zack C. Ramsey Compares

Age at Death
54
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
8
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Zack C. Ramsey is highlighted in Oct.

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. Zack C. Ramsey was killed by rifle; .22 caliber.

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