Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Charlie Gum was shot and killed after he and a deputy responded to investigate reports of a man causing a disturbance near McClung, Virginia. During the course of a boxing match, the suspect eventually picked up a piece of stovewood and beat his opponent, a young boy. Sheriff Gum was called and he responded to the lodge. Upon his arrival, he deputized a citizen to assist him. The suspect opened fire but was wounded when Sheriff Gum returned fire. The man was able to crawl off and was found dead the next day in a fence row nearby. The suspect's son picked up his father's gun and shot Sheriff Gum in the face, killing him instantly. The deputy wounded the young shooter, who was taken to a hospital in Clifton Forge to recover from his injuries. Some months later, the shooter was tried for the murder of Sheriff Gum and convicted. He was sentenced to 25 years in the state prison and ordered to never return to Bath County. Sheriff Gum had served with the Bath County Sheriff's Office for 27 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-4B4F2D95- 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
27 years. You could have gone home.
Sheriff Gum gave the Bath County Sheriff's Office 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Warm Springs community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Gum.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Charlie Ashby Gum 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 VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 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. Charlie Ashby Gum's cause is highlighted.
How Charlie Ashby Gum Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced 25 years in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charlie Ashby Gum is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Charlie Ashby Gum was killed by gun; unknown type.