Hugh Griffin

Patrolman Hugh Griffin was shot and killed when he stopped a vehicle occupied by two men on N.C. 53 six miles east of Burgaw. Unbeknownst to Patrolman Griffin, the car was stolen, and the suspects had shot and killed a store owner in Wilmington six days earlier. Due to a registration issue with the vehicle, Patrolman Griffin ordered the suspects to follow him to the Highway Patrol station. As he was walking back to his patrol car, the driver shot him in the back. The man who killed Patrolman Griffin was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. His sentence was later commuted to life in prison. He died in prison on March 9, 2020. The other suspect was convicted of accessory to murder, the murder of the store owner, and sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years. Patrolman Griffin was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War and served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol for 21 years.