Roll of Honor
Christopher A. Upton
Incident
Location: Georgia Weapon: Rifle Offender: Sentenced to 5 years
Officer Chris Upton was shot and killed by a hunter who mistook him for game at the Ocmulgee Bluff Equestrian Recreation Area in Jasper County, Georgia.
He was on patrol at 11:00 pm when he was struck by a shot fired by the hunter. The shooter was in a two-person hunting party hunting coyotes with a high-powered rifle equipped with night vision. After shooting Officer Upton, the hunting party waited over an hour to call 911 to report the incident and failed to render aid. It is believed that this intentional delay in seeking help contributed to Officer Upton's death.
In November 2011, the suspect who shot Officer Upton was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, hindering a federal investigation, and hunting violations. He was subsequently sentenced to five years in prison and three years probation.
Officer Upton had served with the United States Forest Service for four years. He had previously served with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and as a game warden for the Department of Defense at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and 4-year-old daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-0652779D- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Upton gave the United States Department of Agriculture 4 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Upton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Christopher A. Upton 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of Agriculture - Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations, 6 of 9 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. Christopher A. Upton's cause is highlighted.
How Christopher A. Upton Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 5 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Christopher A. Upton is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Christopher A. Upton was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from United States Department of Agriculture - Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations are honored on badge.nw.
