Trooper Raymond Earl Worley, a 44-year-old male of Caucasian ethnicity, was shot and killed on May 14, 1985, in Weldon, North Carolina. He was a dedicated officer with the North Carolina Highway Patrol, having served for 23 years. The tragic incident occurred when Trooper Worley stopped a van and placed the driver in his patrol car. Shortly after, a second van arrived at the scene, and the driver of that van, who turned out to be the brother of the detained suspect, approached Trooper Worley
and shot him with a handgun.
The suspects, who were driving vans filled with stolen property from a grocery store they had broken into in Pender County, fled the scene after shooting Trooper Worley. A massive manhunt involving over 500 state, local, and federal officers from North Carolina and Virginia ensued. Four suspects were ultimately arrested. Three of them were convicted of accessory to murder and possession of stolen property, while the shooter, a 30-year-old male, was convicted of first-degree murder and initially sentenced to death. However, his death sentence was overturned by a U.S. Circuit court in February 2003, and his sentence was commuted to life in prison on July 20, 2006. As of June 10, 2023, he remains in prison. The other three suspects were sentenced to 9 to 10 years in prison and were released between 1990 and 1993.
Trooper Worley's death was a significant loss to his family, friends, and the law enforcement community. He left behind a wife and two young daughters. His dedication and sacrifice are remembered and honored by those who knew him and served alongside him.
