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Deputy Sheriff William Haywood Webb | Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina
Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina

Deputy Sheriff

William Haywood Webb

Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina

End of Watch: Tuesday, October 6, 1964

Biographical Info

Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 3, 1964
Weapon Used: Shotgun; 12 gauge
Suspect Info: Released after 19 years

Deputy Webb succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained three days earlier while responding to assist a local constable make an arrest in Speed, North Carolina. The constable had attempted to arrest a man for being drunk but the man resisted arrest.

As the constable and the town mayor swore out a warrant the man's brother went home and retrieved a 12-gauge shotgun. The brother returned with the shotgun just as Deputy Webb pulled up to the location. When Deputy Webb exited his patrol car the suspect shot him in the head. Deputy Webb was transported to Duke Hospital in Durham where he died three days later.

The suspect was arrested a short time later by Edgecombe County ABC officers who responded to the scene. He was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on January 20th, 1965. He was released on August 8th, 1984.

Deputy Webb was a US Army veteran and had served with the Edgecombe County Sheriff's Office for three years. He had previously served with the Edgecombe County ABC Enforcement for two years. He was survived by his wife, daughter, parents, brother, and sister.