Patrolman Sonny W. Vaughn, Burlington Police Department, North Carolina

Patrolman Sonny W. Vaughn

Burlington Police Department, North Carolina

End of Watch Wednesday, December 7, 1938

Sonny W. Vaughn

Patrolman Sonny Vaughn and Sheriff Mercellus Robertson, of the Alamance County Sheriff's Department, were shot and killed by two escaped convicts while responding to a burglary-in-progress at a service station at the corner of North Church Street and Trade Street.

Both were met with gunshots from the darkness as they entered the station. A third officer returned fire through a window killing one of the convicts as they tried to escape through a back door. The other convict escaped.

Both convicts had escaped from an Anson County Prison Camp on October 22, 1938.

Patrolman Vaughn was survived by his wife, two sons, and three daughters.

Bio

Age 55
Tour 20 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Shot and killed

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Most Recent Reflection

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I am sad to learn how Sonny lost his life and my condolences go to all of his family. Albert Vaughn was my great grandfather. His son Charlie Jacob (Jake) Vaughn was my grandfather, my father's father and married to Carrie Mae Hall Vaughn, my grandmother and father's mother. I never knew Sonny, or my grandfather who died in 1945, I was born in 1950. It is a blessing to find this family history.

Sharon Vaughn
Family

June 2, 2018