Roll of Honor
Incident
Trooper Bobby Coggins was shot and killed after stopping two Arkansas prison escapees in a stolen pickup truck near Hot Springs, North Carolina, on N.C. 209. He had initiated the traffic stop after suspecting the driver was a possible DUI. After dispatchers advised Trooper Coggins that the two were escapees one of the men opened fire with a .25 caliber handgun. Trooper Coggins attempted to return fire but did not strike the suspects. The second suspect picked up Trooper Coggins gun and shot him in the head. Both suspects were captured three days later after trackers and a bloodhound named "Brandy" forced them out of the Blue Ridge Mountains into the hands of waiting agents of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. All the officers involved in the search and arrest gave all the credit to "Brandy". Both suspects, 23, were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life plus 93 years on May 21, 1986. Minutes before Trooper Coggins was killed his fiancee had driven past him as he stopped the suspects. Trooper Coggins had served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol for one year and had also served as a seasonal park ranger for the National Park Service during the previous two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his fiancee, brother and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-51B5E1AC- 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 Coggins gave the North Carolina Highway Patrol 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of North Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper Coggins.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Trooper Bobby Lee Coggins 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. Bobby Lee Coggins's cause is highlighted.
How Bobby Lee Coggins Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Bobby Lee Coggins is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Bobby Lee Coggins was killed by handgun; .25 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
68 officers from North Carolina Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
