Officer Ronnie E. McGraw

Ronnie E. McGraw

Officer Ronnie McGraw was shot and killed as he and other officers raided a gambling house on East Fourth Street at 1:45 am.

He was shot in the chest and back as he led his officers into the home. Over $42,000 in cash, a shotgun, and eight handguns were confiscated in the house, and 17 suspects were arrested.

Only one suspect was charged with Officer McGraw's murder. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 27 years in prison on May 9, 1971. On August 30, 1972, he was granted a new trial because a judge ruled that the raid was conducted with an invalid search warrant. The suspect was acquitted at his new trial on January 9, 1973.

Officer McGraw was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the Mecklenburg County Police Department for three years. He was survived by his wife and daughter.