Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Jeff Hewitt was shot and killed while serving papers at a residence on Fairhaven Court at about 10:30 pm.
He and three other deputies were serving mental commitment papers to a subject who had been involved in a domestic disturbance earlier in the night. When the officers arrived at the scene, they encountered a locked gate. Sergeant Hewitt climbed over the gate and he observed the suspect hiding in the bushes with a shotgun. The suspect opened fire as Sergeant Hewitt warned the other officers and ordered the suspect to drop the weapon.
The other officers at the scene returned fire, wounding the suspect, who fled a short distance before committing suicide. It is believed that the suspect was waiting for all of the officers to climb over the gate. Then, he was going to attempt to shoot them all. Sergeant Hewitt's actions in warning the other officers is credited with saving their lives.
Sergeant Hewitt was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Gulf War. He had served with the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office for 11 years and was assigned to Edward Squad and SRT.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, parents, and sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-14874A55- 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.
Sergeant Hewitt gave the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Asheville community. Thank you 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
Jeffrey Todd Hewitt served in the Marine Corps (1988â1994) before joining law enforcement.
Sergeant Jeffrey Todd Hewitt 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 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 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Buncombe County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jeffrey Todd Hewitt's cause is highlighted.
How Jeffrey Todd Hewitt Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jeffrey Todd Hewitt is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jeffrey Todd Hewitt was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Buncombe County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
