JAMES THOMAS
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Officer Rank: Constable
Memorial Panel: 37-W: 27
Department: Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, P.D.
End of Watch: April 10, 1946
Cause: SHOT
Age: 42
Years of Service: 15
Description: Constable Thomas was accidentally shot by law enforcement officers as they conducted a moonshine raid. Unbeknownst to the county officers, agents from the Federal Alcohol Tax Unit had also targeted the site on that same evening. When the county officers arrived on the scene, the federal officers ordered them to surrender. The county officers thought they were the moonshiners and did not comply. The federal officers began shooting. Constable Thomas was shot in the chest and died at the scene. Sheriff Arthur Holbert and Deputy Ernest Gass were also shot but survived. The federal agents were charged with murder, but the charges were later dropped or ended in a mistrial. Friendly fire.
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