Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Wyatt Outlaw was lynched by members of a KKK-like group known as the White Brotherhood in retaliation for a prior incident in which members of the group were fired upon during a midnight-ride of intimidation around Courthouse Square.
Constable Outlaw had previously been appointed as the constable of Graham to organize night patrols to prevent such rides. Although it is not known who fired at the masked riders, a rumor was started that Constable Outlaw had fired the shots.
On the night of February 26th, 1870, a group of approximately 60 masked men broke down Constable Outlaw's door and forcibly took him from his home. They hung him from a tree approximately 20 yards from the courthouse in what is now Sesquicentennial Park.
Several men were indicted for Constable Outlaw's murder but none of them were ever tried.
Constable Outlaw was an escaped slave who enlisted in the United States Colored Troops 2nd Cavalry during the Civil War.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two children, and mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-2BBC1324- 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.
Constable Outlaw served with the Graham Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Graham 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
Wyatt Outlaw served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Constable Wyatt Outlaw 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 Graham Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Wyatt Outlaw's cause is highlighted.
How Wyatt Outlaw Compares
Offender Outcome
Never tried
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Wyatt Outlaw is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Wyatt Outlaw was killed by person.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Graham Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
