Sharpsburg Police Department, North Carolina
End of Watch: Friday, July 18, 1997
Age: 47
Tour of Duty: 23 years
Badge Number: 601
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 17, 1997
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to two life sentences
Chief Willard Hathaway succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous day after responding to a domestic dispute call. The suspect also shot and killed his wife during the incident.
The suspect, 25, was apprehended following a search involving several hundred officers. On November 10, 1999, the suspect was found guilty of two counts of first degree murder. On November 18, 1999, he was given two death sentences for the murder of his wife and Chief Hathaway, but the death sentence was overturned and he was sentenced to two life sentences.
Chief Hathaway had served as chief of the 6-man department for 25 years. He is survived by his son. A portion of U.S. 301 through Sharpsburg was named after him.