Alamance County Sheriff's Office, North Carolina
End of Watch: Friday, July 31, 1936
Age: 49
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 31, 1936
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Deceased
Deputy Sheriff Lawrence Gowens was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance two doors away from the jail in Graham.
Deputy Gowens, who also served as the county jailer, heard a woman's screams when her husband shot her in the arm. He ran to the home and confronted the suspect, who shot him with a shotgun. Deputy Gowens was taken to Rainey Hospital where he died 90 minutes later.
The subject was convicted of Deputy Gowens' murder and sent to prison. He was later released and has since died.
Deputy Gowens was survived by his wife, two sons, and three daughters.