Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Wilbur Berry was shot and killed while he and two deputies were struggling with a burglary suspect.
The deputies had responded to a residence after neighbors reported suspicious activity. The deputies discovered a stolen truck in the backyard and searched the house. During the first search, they did not locate anyone, so they started to process the stolen truck. When the deputies searched the house again, they discovered a man hiding in a bedroom. The deputies attempted to arrest him, and the suspect began to struggle.
They were able to get one handcuff on the suspect when he suddenly grabbed a deputy's handgun out of its holster. The deputy immediately sprayed the suspect with OC, but he was able to fire the weapon, striking Sergeant Berry four times and the second deputy twice. The third deputy on the scene returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect.
Sergeant Berry was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Sergeant Berry had served with the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office for 20 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, four daughters, his mother, three brothers, three sisters, and five grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-9C81060E- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
20 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Berry gave the Bulloch County Sheriff's Office 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Statesboro community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Berry.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Wilbur Lewis Berry 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 97,756 officers honored here.
In GA, 548 of 903 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 60.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Wilbur Lewis Berry's cause is highlighted.
How Wilbur Lewis Berry Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wilbur Lewis Berry is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Wilbur Lewis Berry was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Bulloch County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.