Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy James Robertson was shot and killed as he and another deputy investigated suspicious activity at the Spray Grade School at 2240 hours.
Citizens who lived nearby had called authorities to report that several lights in the school were on.
Because the school house had recently been entered by vandals, Deputy Robertson and the other deputy expected to encounter young kids at the school. As they proceeded to the school, Deputy Robertson encountered two men and approached them. As he did so, both men opened fire on him with a .32 caliber pistol and a .38 caliber pistol. Deputy Robertson was struck eight times and fatally wounded.
The two suspects, who were escapees from a federal prison in Fayetteville, were identified and a reward was offered for their arrest. One of the suspects was arrested in Englewood, Ohio, on July 13, 1932, after seriously wounding a Cincinnati detective in a shootout. The second suspect was shot and killed in a shootout with officers in Kentucky in August 1932.
The suspect arrested in Ohio was eventually extradited to North Carolina where he was convicted of murdering Deputy Robertson and a store owner, who had been murdered several days before Deputy Robertson was killed. The suspect was sentenced to death and executed in the electric chair on August 4, 1933.
Deputy Robertson served with the agency for 5 years and served as the chief deputy of the Spray.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-CE21BFEE- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Robertson gave the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Wentworth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Robertson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff James A. Robertson 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 Rockingham County Sheriff's Office, 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. James A. Robertson's cause is highlighted.
How James A. Robertson Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James A. Robertson is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James A. Robertson was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Rockingham County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
