William A. Singleton

Rock Hill Police Department — Rock Hill, SC

Felonious

End of Watch November 9, 1968

Age 44

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

The Vigil Panel 104 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Detective Singleton was shot and killed while walking his beat. A young girl ran up to him and told him that her boyfriend was shooting at her. At the same moment the boyfriend came out of the house and fired a shot, striking Detective Singleton in the head. The 36-year-old suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. On September 8, 1971, he was working at a road job when he was stung by several bees. He was treated at a local hospital and returned to the prison. Later on that day he collapsed and died.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-SC-4B23F2CB
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.
Detective Singleton gave the Rock Hill Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Rock Hill community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Singleton.

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

Agency

Department Rock Hill Police Department

Location Rock Hill, SC

Platform Identity rhpd.york.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 9, 1968

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Age 44

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Died in prison

Detective William A. Singleton 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Rock Hill Police Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Rock Hill Police Department

of 4 officers

50% Felonious

SC — Statewide

271

of 438 officers

61.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious