Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrol Officer Ernest Coleman was shot and killed while working a uniformed off-duty security detail at a local convenience store at 1401 Oaklawn Avenue in Charlotte at 7:30 pm. He was shot by a man he had ejected from the store earlier in the evening for being rowdy. He was transported to the Charlotte Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds five hours later. The 24-year-old suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on March 2, 1983. Officer Coleman had served with the Charlotte Police Department for 18 months.
Survivors
He was survived by his three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-21E2EB44- 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
You barely got started.
Patrol Officer Coleman gave the Charlotte Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Charlotte community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Coleman.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrol Officer Ernest Coleman 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 Charlotte Police Department, 13 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ernest Coleman's cause is highlighted.
How Ernest Coleman Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ernest Coleman is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ernest Coleman was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Charlotte Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
