Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper David Blanton was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on I-40 near Canton, North Carolina. A struggle ensued during the stop, and he was fatally shot.
The subject took Trooper Blanton's service weapon and fled the scene. He was apprehended a short time later by deputies from the Haywood County Sheriff's Office and officers from the Canton Police Department. He was subsequently charged with capital murder. The suspect, 38, was convicted of first-degree murder on October 14, 2010, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Trooper Blanton had served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol for two years and had previously served as a dispatcher for the Cherokee Tribal Police Department. Trooper Blanton was the first enrolled member of the eastern band of the Cherokee Tribe to be a North Carolina Trooper, and he served with Troop "G", District 5 in Waynesville.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, a 2-week-old son, and his mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-20A31089- 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.
Trooper Blanton gave the North Carolina Highway Patrol 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of North Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Blanton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper David Shawn Blanton, Jr. 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 North Carolina Highway Patrol, 23 of 69 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David Shawn Blanton, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How David Shawn Blanton, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David Shawn Blanton, Jr. is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. David Shawn Blanton, Jr. was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
68 officers from North Carolina Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
