Howard Plouff

A respected veteran of the Winston-Salem Police Department, Sergeant Howard J. Plouff was a man known for his dedication to his family and his community. For 17 years, he served the city, building a life with his wife and their two daughters. The 41-year-old White / Caucasian officer was a committed professional whose loss would be deeply felt by all who knew him.

In the early morning hours of Friday, February 23, 2007, a call for help went out from off-duty sheriff's deputies working security at the Red Rooster nightclub on Jonestown Road in Winston-Salem. A private party at the venue had erupted into a large fight, and the situation was escalating. Sergeant Plouff, who was on-duty, responded to assist his fellow officers. By the time he arrived around 2 a.m., the brawl had spilled out into the club's parking lot. In the midst of the chaos, multiple gunshots were fired.

One of the bullets struck Sergeant Plouff. He was rushed to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center for emergency treatment. For 21 hours, he fought for his life, but the wound proved fatal. Sergeant Plouff died from his injuries, leaving his family, his department, and his city in mourning. His end of watch was officially recorded as February 23, 2007.

The Winston-Salem Police Department immediately launched an intensive investigation into the death of one of their own. The search for the person responsible for Sergeant Plouff's death led investigators to a suspect four days after the shooting. Keith Carter, then 22 years old, was apprehended and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting.

The case proceeded through the Forsyth County court system, a difficult and emotional process for both Sergeant Plouff's loved ones and the defendant's family. The trial drew significant public and media attention. On March 11, 2010, after hearing all the evidence, a jury convicted Keith Carter of the lesser charge of second-degree murder for his role in the death of Sergeant Plouff. He was subsequently sentenced to a maximum of 21 years in prison.

For years following the conviction, the case remained a painful memory for the Winston-Salem community. In a 2014 jailhouse interview, Carter maintained his innocence, claiming he did not fire a gun that night and stating, "I'm at peace, because I know one day the truth will prevail."

On February 21, 2024, after serving the majority of his sentence, Keith Carter, then nearly 40 years old, was released from the Davidson Correctional Center. His release was mandatory and requires him to be under post-release supervision. Out of respect for the Plouff family's privacy during a difficult time, the Winston-Salem Police Department declined to issue a public statement regarding Carter's release. The case is now considered closed, with the legal proceedings having run their full course.