Detective Donald Miller, aged 33, was shot and killed on December 23, 2001, while off duty in New Bern, North Carolina. Miller, a male of Caucasian ethnicity, was a dedicated officer with the New Bern Police Department and had served in law enforcement for ten years. He was a United States Army veteran and had previously worked with the Wilmington Police Department and the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Special Police.
Miller was shot by a man who was driving recklessly in the
parking lot of the New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. Miller and his wife were leaving the hospital after visiting their newborn child when he observed the man speeding and weaving in the parking lot. Miller confronted the man, who suddenly pulled out a handgun and opened fire, striking Miller. Miller managed to push his wife out of harm's way before succumbing to his injuries two days later.
The shooter, who was upset that his grandmother's leg had to be amputated, had planned a shooting spree at the hospital. He was later apprehended and convicted of murder, receiving a life sentence. The killer died in prison on December 17, 2014.
Detective Miller is survived by his wife, two sons, his parents, a brother, and a sister. His death was a tragic loss for the community and his colleagues, who remembered him for his bravery and dedication to serving and protecting others.
