Roll of Honor
Ellis Andrew Shields
Incident
Rural Police Officer Ellis Shields was shot and killed near Chesnee when he stopped a car suspected of hauling illegal liquor around 9 pm.
Officer Shields was shot in the head when a gunfight resulted between him and two cousins. Officer Shields managed to return fire, critically wounding the man who shot him.
The gunman who claimed self-defense was tried and acquitted.
Officer Shields had served with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office for at least three years.
Officer Shields' brother, Deputized Constable Melton Shields, was shot and killed in the line of duty on February 18th, 1930.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-85A4ABEE- 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.
Rural Police Officer Shields gave the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Spartanburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Rural Police Officer Shields.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Rural Police Officer Ellis Andrew Shields 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 Spartanburg 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ellis Andrew Shields's cause is highlighted.
How Ellis Andrew Shields Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ellis Andrew Shields is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ellis Andrew Shields was killed by handgun; pistol.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
