Amos Wellington Howell

Watauga County Sheriff's Office — Boone, NC

Felonious

End of Watch November 21, 1902

Age 21

The Vigil Panel 18 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Amos Howell succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained two weeks earlier along the North Fork while attempting to arrest a man for murdering his father.

He was fatally wounded when the suspect opened fire. The suspect's cousin, who was with him when he killed Deputy Howell, was taken into custody.

The shooter fled to Wyoming where he was eventually apprehended in August 1903 and extradited back to North Carolina. A few weeks later he escaped from the Caldwell County Jail and fled into the nearby mountains. On April 22nd, 1904, he was shot and killed by a Watauga County sheriff's deputy.

“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9

Chris Di Gerolamo Federal Air Marshal Service April 29th, 2021

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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 Howell served with the Watauga County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Boone community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Howell.

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

Agency

Department Watauga County Sheriff's Office

Location Boone, NC

Platform Identity wcso.watauga.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 21, 1902

Age 21

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff Amos Wellington Howell 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 Watauga County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.

Watauga County Sheriff's Office

of 5 officers

80% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious