14th anniversary noted of the passing of Watauga County Deputy William Mast Jr, killed in the line of duty

Today marks 14 years since Watauga County Deputy William Mast Jr. was killed in the line of duty. He was just 23 years old when, at approximately 1 a.m. on July 26, 2012, he and a fellow deputy responded to a call at a residence on Hardin Road in the Deep Gap community. A suspect inside the home opened fire, wounding Mast. The other deputy returned fire, striking the suspect, who also died from his injuries. Deputy Mast died from his wounds a short time later.

In the aftermath of Mast's death, his son was born just 17 days later. In the years since, the community has honored his memory in lasting ways. In March 2014, a bridge over the South Fork of the New River on US Highway 421 was dedicated in his name during a ceremony at Perkinsville Baptist Church attended by his family, along with local, state, and law enforcement officials. That July — exactly two years to the day after his death — his name was added to the newly unveiled Watauga County Law Enforcement Fallen Officer's Memorial at the Sheriff's Office, which lists six officers who have died in the line of duty or while actively serving dating back to 1933. An annual memorial foot race and an annual memorial motorcycle ride, which raises scholarship funds at Watauga High School, continue in his honor each year.

Deputy Mast's death in 2012 marked only the second line-of-duty killing in the history of the Watauga County Sheriff's Office since 1952, and just the third time an officer died while actively serving in any capacity. Sadly, that number grew in 2021. On April 28, Sgt. Chris Ward, 36, and K-9 Deputy Logan Fox, 25, were shot and killed while responding to a welfare check on Hardaman Circle in Boone. The standoff also claimed the lives of two civilians and the shooter.