William Gilmore

William Rayvon "Ray" Gilmore Jr. was a 25-year-old patrol officer with the Clayton Police Department in North Carolina. He had been with the department for 17 months and was survived by his wife, son, daughter, and parents. His parents, William Sr. and Nola Mae Gilmore, would later become dedicated advocates for victim's rights, establishing North Carolina's first chapter of the Parents of Murdered Children group. Nola Mae was remembered for her generosity, having offered a home and support to 28 foster children over the years.

On the cold January night of January 30, 1982, Officer Gilmore and his partner were dispatched to a disturbance call on Washington Street. A large, disorderly crowd had gathered, playing loud music, and there were reports of improperly parked vehicles. After the officers worked to disperse the group, Gilmore returned to his patrol car to complete his report. As he sat in the driver's seat, a man approached the vehicle and, without apparent reason, fired a .38 caliber handgun, striking Officer Gilmore in the face. He was killed instantly.

The following day, police apprehended the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Bobby Earl Smith. The investigation revealed that Smith had a prior criminal record, including convictions for two counts of attempted murder for which he had served a minimum sentence and received an early release. Smith was charged with the murder of Officer Gilmore.

On July 14, 1982, Bobby Earl Smith was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. However, under the state's Fair Sentencing Law at the time, those given life sentences between 1981 and 1994 were eligible for parole. This provision meant that for decades, the Gilmore family had to endure the pain of reliving their son's murder through recurring parole hearings.

Year after year, William and Nola Mae Gilmore fought to keep their son's killer behind bars. They attended hearings and spoke out, arguing that Smith's release would endanger the community. "It's like you have an anger inside of you that you don't know how to express about what happened," Nola Mae Gilmore said in a 2006 interview. Her husband, William, added, "We start praying a few weeks ahead of time." The family's efforts were supported by victim advocates and their community, who feared Smith would harm someone else if released. A 2020 online petition organized by the family to oppose Smith's parole cited his history of assaults both in and out of prison as a reason he should remain incarcerated.

Officer Gilmore is honored as one of three officers from the Clayton Police Department killed in the line of duty. A memorial at the Clayton Law Enforcement Center ensures their sacrifices are not forgotten, and the department honors each fallen officer on the anniversary of their end of watch. William Gilmore Sr. passed away in 2014, and Nola Mae Gilmore passed away in 2024, having spent the rest of their lives honoring their son's memory and fighting for the rights of other victims of violent crime. As of September 2020, Bobby Earl Smith remained in prison.