Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Matt Gwatney and Officer Plummer Riggan were shot and killed while searching a house for illegal whiskey. When the officers and Police Chief Frank Pulley discovered the illegal stash the owner opened fire on them, killing both officers and wounding the city's mayor, who was with them. The suspect was subdued by Chief Pulley and a citizen who heard the shots and rushed in to help. The suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison October 8, 1917. In 1897 the suspect was acquitted of murdering a man in Bethel. He died in prison September 30, 1920. Chief Pulley went insane as a result of the tragedy and had to be committed to a mental institution in Raleigh. A few weeks later he escaped and walked to Tarboro. Miraculously as he reached the end of his walk his sanity had returned to him. Mayor Keech recovered from his wounds. Both officers are buried beside each other in Tarboro at the Greenwood Cemetery on Howard Avenue. The house they were killed in was located on Trade Street where the Fountains on the Albermarle Retirement Community is now located.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-4F3B7D46- 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.
Officer Gwatney served with the Tarboro Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Tarboro community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Gwatney.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Matt Ransom Gwatney 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 Tarboro Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Matt Ransom Gwatney's cause is highlighted.
How Matt Ransom Gwatney Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 30 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Matt Ransom Gwatney is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Matt Ransom Gwatney was killed by handgun; revolver.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Tarboro Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
