Patrol Officer Terry Lee Lanier

Terry Lee Lanier

Officer Lanier was stabbed to death while attempting to arrest a mentally disturbed man brandishing a knife. As Officer Lanier approached the suspect from behind he observed the knife and attempted to warn the other officers. However, the suspect immediately turned around and slashed Officer Lanier in the throat, severing his jugular vein. Other officers on the scene opened fire on the suspect, wounding him.

The suspect was found incompetent to stand trial and committed at Dorothea Dix Mental Hospital in Raleigh.

Officer Lanier was survived by his parents. His father also served with the Jacksonville Police Department at the time of his murder.