Lee County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina
End of Watch: Tuesday, February 8, 1927
Age: 41
Tour of Duty: 3 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 30, 1927
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 30 years
Sheriff Turner was shot and killed as he and several deputies attempted to arrest four men for operating a still near Sanford. The suspects opened fire on the deputies with shotguns. Sheriff Turner suffered a mortal wound to the face. Two of the other deputies were also wounded.
All four suspects were apprehended the next day. On April 17, 1927, two of the suspects were convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison. One was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 29 years. The fourth and youngest suspect, age 21, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison.
Sheriff Turner had served as sheriff for only 3 months. He was survived by his wife and three children.