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Deputy Sheriff

Watt Franklin Morgan

Currituck County Sheriff's Office — Maple, NC

Felonious

End of Watch October 12, 1963

Age 61

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 98 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Watt Morgan was shot and killed with his own service weapon by a 17-year-old subject.

He was writing the boy a ticket after the boy crashed into his patrol car. As he did so, the boy attacked him, gained control of his service weapon, and shot him once in the head.

The suspect was arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life in prison on March 5th, 1964. He was paroled on May 2nd, 1990.

Deputy Morgan had served with the Currituck County Sheriff's Office for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NC-EB3E2EC4
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 Morgan gave the Currituck County Sheriff's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Maple community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Morgan.

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

Agency

Department Currituck County Sheriff's Office

Location Maple, NC

Platform Identity ccso.currituck.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 12, 1963

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 61

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Paroled in 1990

Deputy Sheriff Watt Franklin Morgan 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%.

Currituck County Sheriff's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Watt Franklin Morgan's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Watt Franklin Morgan Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Paroled in 1990

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Watt Franklin Morgan is highlighted in Oct.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Watt Franklin Morgan was killed by officer's handgun.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518