Roll of Honor
Asa Hawkins
Incident
Location: North Carolina Weapon: Gun; Unknown type Offender: Pardoned in 1947
Special Agent Asa Hawkins was shot and killed near Maysville, North Carolina, while he and another prohibition agent searched for moonshiners.
The two agents encountered seven men at a liquor still. A gun battle ensued in which Agent Hawkins was killed and the other agent was seriously wounded.
Six men were arrested and held in connection with Agent Hawkins' murder. The seventh, 44, was later arrested in Georgia. He had served 12 years of a 30 year sentence for second degree murder when he escaped from a North Carolina prison camp a year earlier. He confessed that he fired the shots that killed Agent Hawkins. He, his brother, and another of the seven were charged with Agent Hawkins murder. His brother had completed a eight year sentence for the same second degree murder four years earlier.
Agent Hawkins killer was convicted of his murder and sentenced to 15 to 20 years. He was paroled on June 20, 1947, when an order to do so was received from Governor Gregg Cherry. His brother was sentenced to 3 to 5 years. The other man was sentenced to two years in the Jones County Jail. Regarding the other four, one died in jail. The other three were convicted of accessory to murder and prohibition violations.
Agent Hawkins was survived by his wife.
Survivors
Agent Hawkins was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-FED-15D926B0- Stewardship
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- 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.
Special Agent Hawkins served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Hawkins.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent Asa Hawkins 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 Justice - Bureau of Prohibition, 22 of 35 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Asa Hawkins's cause is highlighted.
How Asa Hawkins Compares
Offender Outcome
Pardoned in 1947
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Asa Hawkins is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Asa Hawkins was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
34 officers from United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
