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Trooper

Robert Lee "Pete" Peterson

North Carolina Highway Patrol — Raleigh, NC

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch May 31, 1979

Age 37

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Badge G-235

The Vigil Panel 121 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 68

Incident

Trooper Robert Peterson, Deputy Sheriff Millard Messersmith, and Captain Roy Huskey were shot and killed after responding to a domestic dispute between a man and his teenage daughter in Rutherford County. Captain Huskey was the first officer dispatched to the scene and was shot in the head by the suspect as he exited his patrol car. When Captain Huskey failed to check in, Deputy Messersmith responded to the scene. As he pulled into the driveway, he saw Captain Huskey lying next to the patrol car, and he began to back out of the driveway. The suspect opened fire on Deputy Messersmith as he backed out of the driveway, striking him in the head. A neighbor called the sheriff's office to report that two deputies had been shot. Trooper Peterson heard garbled radio traffic and, although couldn't make out the transmissions, determined something was wrong and began to head toward Rutherfordton. As he drove into town, the suspect sped by him. Trooper Peterson turned around and attempted to stop the car, thinking it was a speeding vehicle and not knowing the suspect had just murdered two deputies. Trooper Peterson's last transmission was that the suspect was running into the woods. Trooper Peterson was found suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. His service revolver had been fired once. The suspect was apprehended, convicted of capital murder, and executed in 1984. Trooper Peterson was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and had served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol for nine years. He was survived by his sister. In 2016, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol named the physical training field and running track at the agency's training center in Raleigh as "Peterson Field" in honor of Trooper Peterson's legacy as the agency's most famous physical training instructor and in honor of his service. The North Carolina Department of Transportation also dedicated a portion of U.S. 221 in Rutherford County in honor of Trooper Peterson.

Survivors

He was survived by his sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NC-99384B7A
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.
Trooper Peterson gave the North Carolina Highway Patrol 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of North Carolina, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department North Carolina Highway Patrol

Location Raleigh, NC

Platform Identity nchp.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 31, 1979

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 37

Badge Number G-235

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; .30-.06

Offender Executed in 1984

Military Service

Robert Lee "Pete" Peterson served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Trooper Robert Lee "Pete" Peterson 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.

North Carolina Highway Patrol

of 69 officers

33.3% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious