Gary E. Fairey

Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office — Orangeburg, SC

Felonious

End of Watch January 20, 1944

The Vigil Panel 80 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Gary Fairey was shot and fatally wounded and Chief Walter Dukes was shot and killed when they attempted to serve a warrant on a man at his home in Branchville.

Earlier in the day the suspect had been causing a scene and brandishing a weapon, which was confiscated. The suspect then threatened the Mayor with another firearm, demanding his previous weapon be returned, which lead to a warrant being issued for his arrest.

When Sheriff Dukes and Deputy Sheriff Fairey attempted to issue the warrant, the suspect asked, and was granted, permission to get his hat, but instead he grabbed a gun and opened fire. Chief Dukes died en route to the hospital in Orangeburg. Deputy Fairey was shot through the chest but was able to return fire and killed the suspect. Deputy Fairey died at the county hospital four days later.

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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.
Deputy Sheriff Fairey served with the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Orangeburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Fairey.

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

Agency

Department Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office

Location Orangeburg, SC

Platform Identity ocso.orangeburg.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 20, 1944

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff Gary E. Fairey 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 Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office

of 4 officers

75% Felonious

SC — Statewide

271

of 438 officers

61.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious