Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman George Penn was shot and killed by two escaped convicts who failed to stop for truck scales. Unbeknownst to Patrolman Penn, the truck was loaded with stolen meat. The suspects led him on a chase that ended in a shootout on Webb Creek Road in Fairview Township in Buncombe County. Patrolman Penn was shot and killed after he ran out of ammunition. The suspects were apprehended and returned to prison. Both men were convicted of Patrolman Penn's murder. They were executed in the gas chamber on July 1, 1938. Patrolman Penn had served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol for less than two years. He was survived by his wife and parents. The North Carolina Department of Transportation named a bridge on Interstate 240 in Asheville at the Blue Ridge parkway-US 74 interchage as the Patrolman George Penn Memorial Bridge.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-4C9D068C- 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.
Patrolman Penn gave the North Carolina Highway Patrol 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of North Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Penn.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman George Cabel Penn 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. George Cabel Penn's cause is highlighted.
How George Cabel Penn Compares
Offender Outcome
Apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George Cabel Penn is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George Cabel Penn 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.
