Claude Spergen Gentry

Buncombe County Sheriff's Office — Asheville, NC

Felonious

End of Watch October 2, 1929

Age 49

The Vigil Panel 58 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Claude Gentry succumbed to stab wounds sustained four days earlier when he attempted to separate two brothers who were fighting and causing a disturbance on Main Street in Woodfin.

As he tried to stop the fight both brothers attacked him with knives and brass knuckles. Deputy Gentry was slashed across the abdomen numerous times and sustained serious wounds. He was taken to Mission Hospital where he died four days later.

The brother who stabbed Deputy Gentry was convicted of murder and sentenced to six to 10 years in prison. He was paroled two years later.

Deputy Gentry was survived by his wife, father, and siblings.

Survivors

Deputy Gentry was survived by his wife, father, and siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NC-FCD07031
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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 Gentry served with the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Asheville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Gentry.

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

Agency

Department Buncombe County Sheriff's Office

Location Asheville, NC

Platform Identity bcso.buncombe.nc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 2, 1929

Age 49

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Stabbed

Weapon Edged weapon

Offender Paroled in 1931

Deputy Sheriff Claude Spergen Gentry 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 Buncombe County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.

Buncombe County Sheriff's Office

of 5 officers

60% Felonious

NC — Statewide

385

of 664 officers

58% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious