Charlie J. Roberts

Columbus Police Department — Columbus, GA

Felonious

End of Watch October 14, 1896

The Vigil Panel 14 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 25

Incident

Officer Charlie Roberts was shot and killed while assisting in the arrest of two men who had just murdered Officer Richard Adams and Officer William Jackson. Officer Adams and Officer Jackson were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man on a disorderly conduct warrant at a saloon at the corner of 13th Street and 1st Avenue. During the arrest the suspect and his son both opened fire, fatally wounding both officers. The two men fled to their home on 16th Street, being chased by an angry mob. The mob surrounded the house but were held off by arriving officers. As the officers attempted to enter the house the two suspects opened fire on them, killing Officer Charlie Roberts and wounding a former police officer who was assisting. The mob of citizens then stormed the house and shot the father, dragged him into the front yard, set his body on fire, and continued to shoot him. The son was able to flee the home and went to Alabama where he was arrested. He was returned to Georgia and hanged for his part in the murders.

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Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

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Tributes

130 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Roberts served with the Columbus Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Columbus community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Columbus Police Department

Type Other

Location Columbus, Muscogee County, GA

Platform Identity cpd.muscogee.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 14, 1896

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Charlie is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 1896, 59 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 129th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month

By day of the week

III

How

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.

Every cause

Weapons recorded