Roll of Honor
Incident
Town Sergeant George Nuckolls was shot and killed by the brother of a woman he had just placed in jail. He had arrested the woman following a domestic violence incident in which she had shot at her husband.
After Town Sergeant Nuckolls placed her in the police department's jail cell, her brother immediately opened fire, killing him.
The suspect, who was a police officer in Bristol, Tennessee, fled the scene. He was arrested several days later in Hazard, Kentucky.
Town Sergeant Nuckolls was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
Survivors
Town Sergeant Nuckolls was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-F905064F- 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.
Town Sergeant Nuckolls served with the Coeburn Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Coeburn community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Town Sergeant Nuckolls.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Town Sergeant George Washington Nuckolls 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%.
At Coeburn Police Department, 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. George Washington Nuckolls's cause is highlighted.
How George Washington Nuckolls Compares
Offender Outcome
Apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George Washington Nuckolls is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George Washington Nuckolls was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Coeburn Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
