Roll of Honor
Incident
Corporal Joe Byrd was attacked and killed by a 17-year-old ex-convict at about 5:35 am.
Corporal Byrd disappeared after leaving his home on Broad River Road to report for duty at the state penitentiary in Columbia. The next day a local farmer came upon Corporal Byrd's burned automobile in a wooded area along Gills Creek one mile east of Bluff Road.
The Richland County Coroner reported that Corporal Byrd had been dealt a crushing blow to his skull before his body was placed on the back seat and the car ignited.
The next day the suspect, who had only been out of prison for two days, was arrested in Charleston. He had stolen an axe from Corporal Byrd's home and then laid in wait on the back floorboard of his car. He admitted that he struck Corporal Byrd several times with the axe and then set his car on fire and pushed him into it.
The subject was convicted of first-degree murder, sentenced to death, and executed in the electric chair June 26th, 1936.
Corporal Byrd had served with the South Carolina Department of Corrections for five years and had previously served with the Lancaster Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, mother, and five sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-8C077D7C- 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.
Corporal Byrd gave the South Carolina Department of Corrections 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of South Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Byrd.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corporal Joe Byrd 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 South Carolina Department of Corrections, 3 of 3 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. Joe Byrd's cause is highlighted.
How Joe Byrd Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1936
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joe Byrd is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joe Byrd was killed by edged weapon; axe.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from South Carolina Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
