Jimmy A. Traylor

South Carolina Highway Patrol — Blythewood, SC

Felonious

End of Watch December 25, 1970

Age 30

The Vigil Panel 107 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 51

Incident

Trooper Jimmy Traylor was shot and killed after he answered a radio call from another trooper asking for help in making an arrest. The shooting occurred when a man and his son drove into the yard of their home after being chased by the other trooper for failing to dim their headlights. A struggle resulted with the two and the son grabbed the troopers service revolver. The trooper ran back to his patrol car and got another gun as Trooper Traylor was arriving on the scene. During an exchange of gun shots Trooper Traylor was shot three times in the chest and killed instantly. The other trooper was shot three times in the abdomen and seriously injured. The father was shot twice in the arm and leg. Other officers arrived on the scene and took the father into custody. The son had escaped. A few hours later deputies took the son into custody after he was found at a nearby house hiding under a bed. Both father and son, 21 and 42, along with both their wives were charged with murder. The son was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. The father was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 15 years. Their wives were convicted of interfering with an officer and both were sentenced to two years. The son was paroled in 1982. In 1999 his parole was revoked and he was sent back to prison to serve the remainder of his life sentence after he was charged with drunk driving and a shotgun was found in the trunk of his car. He died in prison in 2004.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: neuraspine_01krbxtpstsjgx41h3fh0hz3j5
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 Jimmy. 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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Traylor served with the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of South Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Traylor.

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

Agency

Department South Carolina Highway Patrol

Type Highway Patrol

Location Blythewood, Fairfield County, SC

Platform Identity schp.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 25, 1970

Age 30

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Jimmy 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 1970, 138 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 29th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Jimmy was 30. 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.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Fridays: 14.3%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded