North Carolina Department of Public Safety - Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice, North Carolina
End of Watch: Thursday, June 5, 1986
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 7 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: June 5, 1986
Weapon Used: Blunt object
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Correctional Officer Randall Cupp was killed when he attempted to break up a dispute while off duty.
A civilian approached Officer Cupp and told him that she had been assaulted. Officer Cupp responded to the scene and attempted to calm the dispute. One of the people involved in the dispute was a former inmate at the correctional facility where Cupp worked. He hit Officer Cupp in the head several times with a car jack, killing him.
The 22-year-old suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death November 17th, 1986. A new trial was ordered and he was again convicted of first degree murder but sentenced to life on August 11th, 1989.
Officer Cupp had served with the North Carolina Division of Prisons for seven years and was assigned to the Alexander Correctional Center. He was survived by his wife, mother, three sisters, and two brothers.