Edward Frazier Langford

Beaufort County Sheriff's Office — Beaufort, SC

Felonious

End of Watch June 6, 1927

Age 38

The Vigil Panel 53 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 4

Incident

Rural Police Officer Frazier Langford was killed when he and a game warden attempted to arrest a suspect for careless and reckless driving. Visitors to Beaufort reported that they had been forced off the road by three men and a woman in a Buick near Grays Hill. Officer Langford later spotted the Buick and its occupants at a family reunion and ball game along the Savannah Highway five miles from Beaufort. As Officer Langford attempted to arrest the driver a fight ensued. The crowd rapidly turned on Officer Langford as the driver's father ran up behind him and shot him in the back. The volunteer, armed only with a two-shot derringer, fired one shot and then fled in Officer Langford's patrol car to seek help. Later examination would reveal that Officer Langford was shot, stabbed, kicked, beaten, bludgeoned, and bit several times. The driver, his father, and his family were apprehended later that afternoon in Ridgeland. The driver, his wife, father, and three other men were charged with first-degree murder. The defendants were all tried together in 1927. The National Guard had to be deployed by Governor Richards to prevent a lynching. The driver, his father, and another man were sentenced to death. Two were sentenced to life. One was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years in prison. In 1929 Governor Richards commuted the death sentences to life. In 1935 Governor Ibra C. Blackwood commuted the five life terms to 10 years.

Survivors

Officer Langford was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Rural Police Officer Langford served with the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Beaufort community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Rural Police Officer Langford.

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

Agency

Department Beaufort County Sheriff's Office

Location Beaufort, SC

Platform Identity bcso.beaufort.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 6, 1927

Age 38

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced commuted to 10 years

Rural Police Officer Edward Frazier Langford 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 Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Beaufort County Sheriff's Office

of 5 officers

100% Felonious

SC — Statewide

271

of 438 officers

61.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious