Southern Pines Police Department, North Carolina
End of Watch: Wednesday, October 21, 1931
Age: 53
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 21, 1931
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Committed suicide
Chief Ben Beasley was shot and killed near Durham, North Carolina, while returning from Boydton, Virginia, on official business.
Chief Beasley had gone to Boydton to assist a man in having charges dropped against him for attempting to murder his wife by drowning. Chief Beasley, the man, the man's wife, and the man's sister were in the vehicle when the man suddenly pulled a gun and fatally shot the chief in the head and his wife in the shoulder.
The vehicle, which was being driven by the chief, crashed, killing the suspect's sister. The man then fled to a hotel in Tarboro where he was arrested later in the evening. He committed suicide in jail the following day by hanging himself.
Chief Beasley was survived by his wife and daughter.