Ryan Phillip Hendrix
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Ryan Phillip Hendrix

Henderson County Sheriff's Office — Hendersonville, NC
Felonious Veteran
End of Watch September 10, 2020
Age 35
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 172 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Ryan Hendrix was shot and killed when he responded to a vehicle tampering and shooting call in the area of Bethea Drive and Piney Ridge Drive in Mountain Home.

A citizen called 911 at about 3:00 am after discovering someone breaking into a vehicle. The citizen retrieved a firearm and confronted the subject. The subject had stolen a firearm from the vehicle and the two exchanged gunshots.

Deputy Hendrix and other deputies arrived on the scene and confronted the subject, who was wanted on a warrant for a parole violation. The man initially complied with commands but then grabbed the handgun and opened fire, striking Deputy Hendrix. The other deputies returned fire and killed the subject.

Deputy Hendrix was transported to a local hospital where it was determined he could not survive. He was declared medically deceased so that his organs could be donated.

Deputy Hendrix was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He had served with the Henderson County Sheriff's Office for eight years, years, most recently as a Patrol Shift Detective and as a member of the SWAT Team.

Survivors

He is survived by his two children and fiancée.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-6217C51C
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Hendrix gave the Henderson County Sheriff's Office 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Hendersonville community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Location Hendersonville, NC
Platform Identity hcso.henderson.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 10, 2020
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun
Offender Shot and killed

Military Service

Ryan Phillip Hendrix served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Deputy Sheriff Ryan Phillip Hendrix 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 Henderson County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Henderson County Sheriff's Office
1
of 2 officers
50% Felonious
NC — Statewide
385
of 664 officers
58% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ryan Phillip Hendrix's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Ryan Phillip Hendrix Compares

Age at End of Watch
35
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
8
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ryan Phillip Hendrix is highlighted in Sep.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ryan Phillip Hendrix was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Henderson County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.