Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman William Kearns was shot and killed while investigating a disturbance involving several individuals on West Depot Street.
Patrolman Kearns had been on duty at the railroad depot and had gone home just before midnight for his lunch break. A few minutes after he left home to return to duty, he encountered three men near his house on West Depot Street who had been drinking and were creating a disturbance. When he attempted to arrest the men, one of them produced a pistol and exchanged shots with Patrolman Kearns, killing him.
The suspects all fled the scene but were eventually apprehended. The man who shot Patrolman Kearns was executed by hanging on September 2nd, 1900.
Patrolman Kearns was a part-time officer and was only called to duty when the chief of police was out of town.
West Depot Street no longer exists. It was on the opposite side of the railroad tracks from Scott Avenue SW.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-5EF4C7B1- 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
127 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Kearns served with the Concord Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Concord community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman William J. Kearns 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 Concord Police Department, 3 of 3 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. William J. Kearns's cause is highlighted.
How William J. Kearns Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1900
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William J. Kearns is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William J. Kearns was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Concord Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
