Local Heroes Golf Tournament remembers Tarica Pulliam

New Hanover County law enforcement officers remembered one of their own today. Tarica Pulliam was murdered this summer. The annual Local Heroes Golf Tournament was held in her honor.

One of Pulliam’s co-workers, Scott Perez, said, “Our squad lost a true friend. A true hard worker, and a true friend.”

On August 6th, Pulliam was gunned down outside her Wilmington home. The hunt for her suspected killer, ended with his suicide.

Pulliam’s former boyfriend, Anthony Bowen, killed himself in the woods of a Jacksonville mobile home park. Pulliam had filed a restraining order against him just 4 months before her death.

Money raised from the tournament will go to the seven year old daughter Pulliam left behind.

“It lifts my day to know she’s loved and still being loved,” said Tarica’s mother, Gracie Pulliam.

Organizers of the annual Local Heroes Golf Tournament said when news of Tarica Pulliam’s murder spread through the sheriff’s department, there was no question she would be remembered on this day.

“You always have Tarica in your memory, as well as other officers we’ve lost in the past. Always when you wake up in the morning and you go to work, that’s in the back of your mind,” said Pat Cullifer, Local Heroes Tournament organizer.

More than seventy golfers played in the tournament. Gracie Pulliam said the turnout reminds her just how much her daughter was admired. “It brings a little more joy because it makes me know what my child was really all about. She was all about caring, helping and it just brings a lot more joy to us,” she said.

The entire $75 per golfer entry fee, and sales of raffle tickets, will go toward Pulliam’s daughter’s education.