North Carolina Highway Patrol, North Carolina
End of Watch Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Add to My HeroesDavid Shawn Blanton, Jr.
Trooper David Blanton was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on I-40 near Canton, North Carolina. A struggle ensued during the stop, and he was fatally shot.
The subject took Trooper Blanton's service weapon and fled the scene. He was apprehended a short time later by deputies from the Haywood County Sheriff's Office and officers from the Canton Police Department. He was subsequently charged with capital murder. The suspect, 38, was convicted of first-degree murder on October 14, 2010, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Trooper Blanton had served with the North Carolina Highway Patrol for two years and had previously served as a dispatcher for the Cherokee Tribal Police Department. Trooper Blanton was the first enrolled member of the eastern band of the Cherokee Tribe to be a North Carolina Trooper, and he served with Troop "G", District 5 in Waynesville. He is survived by his wife, a 2-week-old son, and his mother.
Trooper Blanton's son, Tye, passed away in October 2008 at the age of 4 months.
The tribal council of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians named the bridge in downtown Cherokee Reservation over the Oconaluftee River in honor of Trooper Blanton. The North Carolina Department of Transportation named a bridge on Interstate 40 near Canton, NC, in honor of Trooper Blanton.
Bio
- Age 24
- Tour 2 years
- Badge G-540
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Sentenced to life
Most Recent Reflection
View all 879 ReflectionsA great friend through patrol school, can’t believe it’s been so long.
Miss ya brother
Master Trooper Jason Singalevitch
NCSHP
June 17, 2024
Recent LODD Deaths
![Segus R. Jolivette](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27106/c_2024_jolivette.jpg)
Senior Corporal Segus R. Jolivette
Lafayette Police Department, LA
EOW: July 25, 2024
![Mohamed Said](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27101/police-officer-mohamed-said.jpg)
Corporal Mohamed Said
Melvindale Police Department, MI
EOW: July 21, 2024
![Edgar Ordonez](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27100/c_edgar-ordonez.jpg)
Probationary Police Officer Edgar Ordonez
New York City Police Department, NY
EOW: July 10, 2024
![Robert William Sumner](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27096/c_robert-sumner.png)
Corporal Robert William Sumner
Oklahoma Department of Corrections, OK
EOW: July 14, 2024
![Matthew Bowen](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27095/police-officer-matthew-bowen.jpg)
Police Officer Matthew Bowen
Vacaville Police Department, CA
EOW: July 11, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Fernando Esqueda
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: July 11, 2024
![Kevin Linn Palmer](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27091/c_k._palmer.jpg)
Assistant Chief Kevin Linn Palmer
North Richland Hills Police Department, TX
EOW: May 1, 2024
![Jamieson Ritter](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27085/police-officer-jamieson-ritter.jpg)
Police Officer Jamieson Ritter
Cleveland Division of Police, OH
EOW: July 4, 2024
![William Butler, Jr.](https://www.odmp.org/media/thumb/125/officer/27084/c_butler-bill.jpg)
Deputy Sheriff William Butler, Jr.
Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office, MI
EOW: June 27, 2024