Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable R. Ragland Brunson was shot and killed while attempting to serve an arrest warrant on a subject north of Dillon.
He had made an unrelated arrest about eight miles north of Dillon and was transporting his prisoner when he encountered another wanted man driving a buggy on the roadway in the opposite direction. As he dismounted his buggy to serve the warrant the man in the other buggy shot him before fleeing.
With the help of his prisoner, Constable Brunson got back into his buggy and started toward a doctor's home but died before reaching it.
The man who killed Constable Brunson was arrested the following month. He was convicted of manslaughter in November 1908 and sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Constable Brunson was survived by his wife and four children.
Survivors
Constable Brunson was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-SC-A13255AB- Stewardship
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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.
Constable Brunson served with the Marion County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Marion community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Brunson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable Reuben Ragland Brunson 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Reuben Ragland Brunson's cause is highlighted.
How Reuben Ragland Brunson Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 11 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Reuben Ragland Brunson is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Reuben Ragland Brunson was killed by handgun.