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Incident
Patrolman Hunt was shot and killed while attempting to arrest several men on Buncombe Street for several armed robberies. After arresting the two men three accomplices drove up and opened fire on Patrolman Hunt and two detectives, striking Patrolman Hunt twice. The five men escaped and four were eventually apprehended. Only one of the men was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. He escaped from the Boykin Prison Farm in 1957 and remained at large for six years. In 1963 he was recaptured by the FBI in Montana. In 1964 a judge ordered that the suspect was to be given a new trial, stating that his first trial was mishandled. The suspect was released from prison after posting a $10,000 bond. A year later the South Carolina Supreme Court reversed the judge's ruling and ordered that the suspect be returned to prison. But, the suspect was no where to be found. In 1967 he was again recaptured by the FBI in Tucson, Arizona. A year later the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the South Carolina Supreme Court's decision and ordered a new trial in which the suspect was acquitted December 4, 1968. Patrolman Hunt had been with the agency for two years.
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Hunt gave the Greenville Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Greenville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Hunt.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Greenville Police Department has lost 12 officers; 11 of them killed feloniously.
Absolom is one of 272 officers killed feloniously in SC, 61.5% of the 442 remembered there.
Absolom is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Absolom 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 1932, 1 officer at Greenville Police Department was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 1919, with 2.
In 1932, 4 officers in SC were killed feloniously, the 8th heaviest of 119 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 7.
In 1932, 210 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 8th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1932, 210 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 11th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Absolom was 31. Of the 11 killed feloniously at Greenville Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 48; the middle age was 43. Absolom had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 12 years.
Absolom was 31. Of the 243 killed feloniously in SC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 47; the middle age was 38. Absolom had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 5.3 years.
Absolom was 31. 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. Absolom had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Absolom was 31. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Absolom had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 27.3% of these deaths at Greenville Police Department, more than any other month. Sundays: 45.5%.
May holds 9.9% of these deaths in SC; July holds the most, 10.7%. Sundays: 19.5%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 91.7% of all 12 deaths at Greenville Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 54.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 61.5% of all 442 deaths in SC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 17.3% 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 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Greenville Police Department has 12 officers remembered here, Absolom among them.
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James Patrick Tucker
Apr 13, 1904
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Oliver S. Gunnels Feb 17, 1911
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James Earl Holcombe
May 30, 1915
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Alford M. Blair
Oct 5, 1919
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Joseph H. Kitchen
Oct 5, 1919
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George Staples Burroughs May 6, 1921
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Arthur F. Lackey
Mar 4, 1925
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Absolom Blythe Hunt
May 1, 1932
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William Frank Chasteen
Feb 21, 1971
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Mathew Montgomery Beacham, Jr.
Sep 20, 1983
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James Russell Sorrow
Sep 19, 1996
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Allen Lee Jacobs
Mar 18, 2016
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 61-E
What is kept
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Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Greenville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
