Officer Ronnie E. McGraw

Officer Ronnie E. McGraw | Mecklenburg County Police Department, North Carolina
Mecklenburg County Police Department, North Carolina
Officer Ronnie E. McGraw

Mecklenburg County Police Department, North Carolina

End of Watch Sunday, October 18, 1970

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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.

Bio

  • Age 25
  • Tour 3 years
  • Badge 31
  • Military Veteran

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Weapon Gun; Unknown type
  • Offender Apprehended

gambling

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Ronnie's friends were not all cops or Air Force vets. I knew him as a friend and neighbor from 1955 to 1964. Lots of good memories from our horseback riding, camping out and hunting with our BB guns. I had just returned from Vietnam in September 1970 and visited with Ronnie, Beverly and the new baby--Rhonda. I learned of his death ten days later, and will never forget his saying that his job was every bit as dangerous of my tour as an infantry officer. He was a good friend and the kind of guy you want on your side in case of trouble. RIP, Ronnie.

Roger Soiset
friend and neighbor

January 16, 2023

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