Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff John Wells was shot and killed after responding to reports of a gunfight between two men in Burgaw at 7:30 am. When Sheriff Wells arrived, he encountered one of the men holding a shotgun. He ordered the man to drop the weapon three times, but the man turned towards him. Sheriff Wells opened fire, wounding the suspect, who fired back and struck Sheriff Wells in the head. The suspect then shot himself in the chest. Sheriff Wells was a World War I veteran and had served with the Pender County Sheriff's Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-71DC0F93- 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.
Sheriff Wells gave the Pender County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Burgaw community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Thomas Wells served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sheriff John Thomas Wells 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 Pender 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Thomas Wells's cause is highlighted.
How John Thomas Wells Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Thomas Wells is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Thomas Wells was killed by shotgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Pender County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
