Bio & Incident Details
Age: 55
Tour: 3 years
Badge # Not available
Military veteran
Cause: Gunfire
Incident Date: 10/31/1953
Weapon: Shotgun
Suspect: Committed suicide
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Sheriff John Wells was shot and killed after responding to reports of a gunfight between two men in Burgaw at 7:30 am.
When he arrived he encountered one of the men holding a shotgun. He ordered the man to drop the weapon three times but the man turned towards him. Sheriff Wells opened fire, wounding the suspect, who fired back and struck Sheriff Wells in the head. The suspect then shot himself in the chest.
Sheriff Wells was a WWI veteran and had served with the Pender County Sheriff's Department for three years. He was survived by his wife and two sons.
