Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable Smith was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man for possessing illegal whiskey. The suspect was captured in Richmond, Virginia, two weeks later.
The suspect was convicted of Constable Smith's murder and sentenced to death. He was executed in the electric chair on February 13, 1930.
Constable Smith was survived by his wife and six children.
Survivors
Constable Smith was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-C135A388- 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.
Constable Smith served with the Marks Creek Township Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Hamlet community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable William David Smith 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William David Smith's cause is highlighted.
How William David Smith Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1930
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William David Smith is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William David Smith was killed by handgun.