James A. Kitchen

Robeson County Sheriff's Office — Lumberton, NC

Felonious

End of Watch July 2, 1920

Age 58

The Vigil Panel 39 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy Sheriff James Kitchen was shot and killed as he stopped to investigate a suspicious car that was stopped in the middle of the road four miles from Maxton. The occupant of the car, who was hauling illegal bootleg liguor, opened fire on him as he stepped from his own vehicle.

The suspect was apprehended in Columbia, South Carolina, several days later. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison on November 17th, 1920.

Deputy Kitchen was survived by his wife and five children.

Survivors

Deputy Kitchen was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NC-59C43F54
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.
Deputy Sheriff Kitchen served with the Robeson County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Lumberton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Kitchen.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Robeson County Sheriff's Office

Location Lumberton, NC

Platform Identity rcso.robeson.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 2, 1920

Age 58

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to 30 years

Deputy Sheriff James A. Kitchen 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 Robeson County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Robeson County Sheriff's Office

of 5 officers

60% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious