Incident
Officer Edward McConnell succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained four days earlier at the intersection of South Main Street (modern-day Hendersonville Road) and McDowell Street while transporting a prisoner. The man had been arrested for stealing two cows from Hendersonville. A citizen was driving Officer McConnell and the prisoner to the jail when the prisoner suddenly pulled out a gun and shot Officer McConnell. On November 4, 1912, the suspect was captured in Atlanta, Georgia, by the Anderson County sheriff and a Fulton County deputy. He was returned to Asheville where he was charged with first-degree murder and placed in the Buncombe County Jail. He was later tried and acquitted of Officer McConnell's murder. Officer McConnell had served with the Asheville Police Department for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-E613CA38- 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.
Officer McConnell gave the Asheville Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Asheville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer McConnell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Edward McConnell 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 Asheville Police Dept., 5 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edward McConnell's cause is highlighted.
How Edward McConnell Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edward McConnell is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Edward McConnell was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Asheville Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.






