Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, Virginia
End of Watch Thursday, November 5, 1981
Add to My HeroesDonald C. Benson, Sr.
Sergeant Donald Benson succumbed to a gunshot sustained the previous day when he was shot as he and another deputy attempted to serve a court order for an emergency mental health evaluation.
As the two deputies approached the suspect's home in the Litwalton section of the county, the man opened the door and fired a .25 caliber handgun, fatally wounding Sergeant Benson.
The other deputy returned fire and wounded the suspect in the abdomen. The man was taken into custody and committed to a state hospital.
Sergeant Benson had served with the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office for eight years. He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
Bio
- Age 34
- Tour 8 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Incident Date Wednesday, November 4, 1981
- Weapon Handgun; .25 caliber
- Offender Committed
Most Recent Reflection
View all 9 ReflectionsRest in peace Sergeant Benson.
Rabbi Lewis S. Davis
April 9, 2025
Recent LODD Deaths
Detective Timothy Jones
Park Forest Police Department, IL
EOW: December 3, 2025
Specialist Sarah Beckstrom
United States Department of Defense - Army National Guard - West Virginia Army National Guard, WV
EOW: November 27, 2025
Reserve Deputy Sheriff John C. Stahl, III
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, IN
EOW: June 8, 2025
Sergeant Terri Jean Sweeting-Mashkow
Indian River County Sheriff's Office, FL
EOW: November 21, 2025
Police Officer Alec Sanders
Alhambra Police Department, CA
EOW: November 20, 2025
Corrections Officer Jeremy Lewis Hall
Virginia Department of Corrections, VA
EOW: November 17, 2025
Police Officer Marc Brock
Vivian Police Department, LA
EOW: November 14, 2025
Corporal Blake Adair Reynolds
Delaware County Sheriff's Office, IN
EOW: November 12, 2025
Police Officer Roger Smith
WakeMed Campus Police & Public Safety Department, NC
EOW: November 8, 2025