Roll of Honor
James Perry Bagwell
Incident
Jailer James Bagwell was stabbed to death inside the old Greenville County Jail, located at 32 East Broad Street, at approximately 1:05 am.
He and another jailer attempted to move an inmate from a cell with multiple prisoners into an individual cell when the man stabbed them both. The prisoner was being transferred because he had complained of being sick.
The man was subdued inside the jail by another jailer and a Greenville City police officer who was in the jail at the time.
The 23-year-old subject was convicted of Jailer Bagwell's murder and sentenced to life.
Jailer Bagwell had served with the Greenville County Jail for 18 months. He had previously served with the Pickens County Sheriff's Office for 11 years and the Liberty Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, four daughters, seven brothers, four sisters, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-E35BD0D2- 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.
Jailer Bagwell gave the Greenville County Department of Public Safety 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of South Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Jailer Bagwell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Jailer James Perry Bagwell 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. James Perry Bagwell's cause is highlighted.
How James Perry Bagwell Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Perry Bagwell is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Perry Bagwell was killed by edged weapon; knife.