Sergeant Howard J. Plouff, a 41-year-old male of Caucasian ethnicity, was fatally shot on February 23, 2007, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Plouff, a 17-year veteran of the Winston-Salem Police Department, was off-duty and working security at a nightclub when a fight broke out during a private party. The altercation moved outside, and several shots were fired, one of which struck Plouff. He was transported to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries approximately 21 hours later.
The suspect, a 22-year-old male, was apprehended four days after the incident and charged with first-degree murder. On March 11, 2010, he was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 21 years in prison. The suspect is scheduled to be released on February 17, 2024.
Plouff is survived by his wife and two daughters, and his death has been memorialized by the Winston-Salem Police Department and the community. The incident has also led to ongoing discussions about the safety of off-duty officers working security and the legal proceedings surrounding the case.
