Incident
Patrol Officer Ernest Coleman was shot and killed while working a uniformed off-duty security detail at a local convenience store at 1401 Oaklawn Avenue in Charlotte at 7:30 pm. He was shot by a man he had ejected from the store earlier in the evening for being rowdy. He was transported to the Charlotte Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds five hours later. The 24-year-old suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on March 2, 1983. Officer Coleman had served with the Charlotte Police Department for 18 months.
Survivors
He was survived by his three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtmracafnbgfsz13pxapf- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Ernest. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
You barely got started.
Patrol Officer Coleman gave the Charlotte Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Charlotte community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Coleman.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Charlotte Police Department has lost 18 officers; 13 of them killed feloniously.
Ernest is one of 385 officers killed feloniously in NC, 58% of the 664 remembered there.
Ernest is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Ernest is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1982, 1 officer at Charlotte Police Department was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 12 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 2.
In 1982, 2 officers in NC were killed feloniously, the 64th heaviest of 127 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 12.
In 1982, 122 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 42nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1982, 142 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 35th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Ernest was 31. Of the 13 killed feloniously at Charlotte Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 44; the middle age was 39. Ernest had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 3.5 years.
Ernest was 31. Of the 370 killed feloniously in NC whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 48; the middle age was 39. Ernest had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Ernest was 31. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Ernest had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Ernest was 31. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Ernest had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 15.4% of these deaths at Charlotte Police Department; January holds the most, 15.4%. Thursdays: 15.4%.
July holds 7.3% of these deaths in NC; May holds the most, 11.4%. Thursdays: 16.1%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 72.2% of all 18 deaths at Charlotte Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 30.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 58% of all 664 deaths in NC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 16.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Charlotte Police Department has 18 officers remembered here, Ernest among them.
-
James Moran Apr 4, 1892
-
James H. Brown Aug 2, 1904
-
John Robert Estridge
Mar 29, 1913
-
Joseph Eckels Orr Sep 29, 1926
-
John North Byers Sep 30, 1926
-
Robert M. Reid
Jan 1, 1927
-
Harvey Edgar Correll
Jan 22, 1929
-
Thomas H. Jenkins
Oct 21, 1929
-
Benjamin H. Frye
Jun 9, 1930
-
Charles P. Nichols
Apr 17, 1936
-
Charlie Herbert Baker
Apr 12, 1941
-
Johnny Reed Annas
May 21, 1960
-
Edmond N. Cannon
Nov 23, 1981
-
Ernest Coleman
Jul 1, 1982
-
Timothy Wayne Whittington
Jul 16, 1985
-
Robert Louis Smith
Jan 15, 1987
-
Milus Terry Lyles
Aug 6, 1990
-
Eugene A. Griffin
Nov 22, 1991
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 6-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from Charlotte Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.












