Roll of Honor
Coleman Boyd McAteer
Incident
Constable Coleman McAteer was shot and killed while assisting a county deputy arrest a man wanted for murdering two men in Union County, North Carolina.
The officers located the man's car on SC 200, approximately three miles north of Lancaster. As they pulled alongside it, the man opened fire on them, striking the constable in the chest and the deputy in the hand. Despite their wounds, both officers were able to return fire and struck the suspect several times. As a result of his wounds, the deputy's hand had to be amputated.
The 32-year-old suspect, who was a former police officer in Waxhaw, North Carolina, was arrested and charged with murder. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on February 24, 1948.
Constable McAteer had served as a military policeman guarding German POWs during WWII.
Survivors
He was survived by his fiancée.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-E55D929D- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Constable McAteer served with the Lancaster County Magistrate's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Lancaster community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Coleman Boyd McAteer served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Constable Coleman Boyd McAteer 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 Lancaster County Magistrate's Office, 2 of 2 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. Coleman Boyd McAteer's cause is highlighted.
How Coleman Boyd McAteer Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Coleman Boyd McAteer is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Coleman Boyd McAteer was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Lancaster County Magistrate's Office are honored on badge.nw.
