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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Marcus Whitfield was shot and killed while he and two other deputies were attempting to break up a fight outside of a Waffle House restaurant on Roper Mountain Road in Greenville.
When the deputies responded to the fight, they witnessed a man firing a handgun into the ground and a second person being beaten by others. The man who was firing into the ground dropped his gun and attempted to flee. The deputies recovered the gun and struggled with the suspect. The other suspects then fled, got into a car, and began to leave the scene. Before doing so, they struck one deputy with the car, and an individual inside the car opened fire on the deputies.
Deputy Whitfield was struck in the base of the skull and killed. A second deputy was hit in the shoulder and wounded but was able to return fire, striking the vehicle. The suspects in the vehicle were captured later in the day and charged with murder. Both suspects were 19 years old.
The suspect, who was free on bond, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Charges against another suspect in the car were dropped. A third suspect, who was on probation, was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Deputy Whitfield had served with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office for three years.
Survivors
He is survived by his parents and brother.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Whitfield gave the Greenville County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Greenville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Whitfield.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Greenville County Sheriff's Office has lost 17 officers; 14 of them killed feloniously.
Marcus is one of 272 officers killed feloniously in SC, 61.5% of the 442 remembered there.
Marcus is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Marcus is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1999, 1 officer at Greenville County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 13 years on record. The heaviest was 2003, with 2.
In 1999, 1 officer in SC was killed feloniously, the 71st heaviest of 119 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 7.
In 1999, 58 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 133rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1999, 61 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 132nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Marcus was 27. Of the 14 killed feloniously at Greenville County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 30.8 and 36.8; the middle age was 34. Marcus had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 4.5 years.
Marcus was 27. Of the 243 killed feloniously in SC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 47; the middle age was 38. Marcus had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 5.3 years.
Marcus was 27. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Marcus had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Marcus was 27. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Marcus had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 21.4% of these deaths at Greenville County Sheriff's Office; June holds the most, 21.4%. Fridays: 21.4%.
August holds 8.8% of these deaths in SC; July holds the most, 10.7%. Fridays: 15.4%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 82.4% of all 17 deaths at Greenville County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 61.5% of all 442 deaths in SC, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause.
His people
Greenville County Sheriff's Office has 17 officers remembered here, Marcus among them.
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Eli Pittman
Apr 30, 1906
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Edgar Cleveland Waldrop
Jun 26, 1910
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John Flemon Lindsey
Oct 5, 1914
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James Arthur Stewart
Aug 26, 1917
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Hendrix Rector
Jul 4, 1919
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George Matthew Myers
Sep 22, 1926
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Samuel D. Willis
Jun 11, 1927
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Perry Paris
Oct 24, 1930
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Robert Earle Thompson Oct 7, 1940
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John P. Martin
Sep 12, 1965
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Claude V. Southerlin, Jr.
Oct 31, 1966
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Rufus Frank Looper, III
Feb 1, 1975
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William Mahon Banks
Jun 9, 1989
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Marcus Lyman Whitfield
Aug 13, 1999
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Antonio Joselito Sapinoso
Apr 2, 2003
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Andrew John Mazur
Aug 17, 2003
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William Conley Jumper, Jr.
Oct 20, 2020
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 59-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Greenville County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
