Officer James Joseph McConkey was 25 when he was killed on December 3, 1977, while on foot patrol in downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina. Assigned to respond to a recent burglary wave, he encountered three men he considered suspicious and attempted to apprehend them. During a struggle one of the men gained control of McConkey’s service weapon and shot him.

He was later convicted of manslaughter and armed robbery and sentenced to life in prison; records note he remained incarcerated as of June 11, 2023, with a projected release date in 2054. McConkey, a U.S. Army veteran, was survived by his wife, parents, and two brothers.

Anyone with memories of Fayetteville in 1977 or additional information about this case is asked to share what they know.