Lieutenant Willard Edward Vaughan, aged 64, was a dedicated officer with the Roanoke Rapids Police Department in North Carolina. On May 9, 1977, he responded to a silent alarm at a convenience store. Vaughan, along with another officer and a deputy sheriff, arrived at the scene. Vaughan's vehicle was in front as they drove back toward the crime scene. The deputy slowed down to look down a dirt road, and Vaughan's brake lights came on.
Vaughan exited his vehicle, and the deputy saw a tremendous amount of gunfire. One of the two suspects ran in front of Vaughan's vehicle and opened fire at close range. Vaughan was hit four times, and the suspect was hit once. The deputy pulled up and the suspect shot at the deputy, hitting his vehicle. The deputy then shot and hit the suspect a second time. The two suspects were arrested at the scene, and a third suspect was arrested hours later in Emporia, Virginia.
Vaughan's killer, an 18-year-old, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on September 19, 1977. Vaughan had served with the Roanoke Rapids Police Department for 21 years and was planning to retire in three months. He was survived by his wife and son. Vaughan's death was a tremendous shock to the community, and he was remembered as a fine officer who understood community policing decades before it became popular.
The case was thoroughly investigated, and the suspects were brought to justice. Vaughan's killer remained in prison as of June 15, 2023. The community continues to honor Vaughan's memory and service, and he is remembered as a true hero who made Roanoke Rapids a safer place.
