Alexander County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina
End of Watch: Tuesday, June 2, 1959
Age: 53
Tour of Duty: 12 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 2, 1959
Weapon Used: Rifle; .22 caliber
Suspect Info: Died in prison
Sheriff Thomas Bebber was shot and killed when he and a deputy responded to a domestic dispute in which a 38-year-old man was throwing rocks at his father's house.
While in the house the man picked up a .22 caliber rifle and shot Sheriff Bebber in the back, killing him. The suspect surrendered one hour later and was charged with murder.
The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison October 2, 1959. He died in prison May 21, 2002.
Sheriff Bebber was survived by his wife and five children. One of his sons later became sheriff of Alexander County.