James Owens, Jr.

Charleston County Police Department — Charleston, SC

Felonious

End of Watch May 11, 1968

Age 34

The Vigil Panel 104 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Patrolman James Owens was shot and killed while transporting a prisoner he had just arrested. He had responded to an accident and had transported an injured woman and her boyfriend to the hospital. While at the hospital the boyfriend became disorderly and Patrolman Owens arrested him. As he took the man to jail the man produced a .22 caliber handgun and shot Patrolman Owens in the neck four times. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death September 18th, 1968. His sentence was later commuted to life. He died in prison in May of 2010.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-SC-ADA2DE9D
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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.
Patrolman Owens served with the Charleston County Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Charleston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Owens.

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

Agency

Department Charleston County Police Department

Location Charleston, SC

Platform Identity ccpd.charleston.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 11, 1968

Age 34

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .22 caliber

Offender Died in prison

Patrolman James Owens, Jr. 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 Charleston County Police Department, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.

Charleston County Police Department

of 6 officers

83.3% Felonious

SC — Statewide

271

of 438 officers

61.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious