Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Benjamin Carden was shot and killed while attempting to serve an arrest warrant on a suspect at 5:00 p.m. near Seabrook. Officer Carden was shot at close range in the abdomen with a shotgun. His partner, who was around the back of the house, ran to the front and engaged in a gunfight with two fleeing suspects. The suspects, who were brothers, continued to fire at him even as he loaded Officer Carden's body into the car and then disappeared into the woods. One of the suspects was captured in Philadelphia in 1932. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. He died from an unknown disease in prison before the sentence could be carried out. The other suspect was captured in Cincinnati in 1939. He was tried in 1940, sentenced to death, and executed in the electric chair on August 20, 1941. Officer Carden was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office for six months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, child, parents, three brothers, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-7BE8B42E- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Officer Carden served with the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Beaufort community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Benjamin Paul Carden served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Officer Benjamin Paul Carden 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Benjamin Paul Carden's cause is highlighted.
How Benjamin Paul Carden Compares
Offender Outcome
One executed; One died in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Benjamin Paul Carden is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Benjamin Paul Carden was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Beaufort County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
