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Hugh Lucas Johnson
Incident
Assistant Superintendent Hugh Johnson and Corrections Employee James Vanneter were stabbed to death while working at the Virginia State Penitentiary in Richmond. The 30-year-old inmate, who was serving a life sentence for a murder conviction in 1952, had created an 8-inch shank out of a large file. He was working in the clothing shop when he suddenly ran to the superintendent's office and stabbed a clerk in the stomach, wounding him. He then ran to the industrial shop where he stabbed Superintendent Johnson in the stomach and chest. Superintendent Johnson succumbed to his wounds the following day. After stabbing Superintendent Johnson, the inmate ran to the prison hospital where he stabbed the prison doctor, and Corrections Employee James Vanneter, in the face, arm, and chest, before being subdued by correctional officers. The inmate, charged with two counts of murder, was found not guilty by reason of insanity. He was released from prison in 1970 after the Virginia Supreme Court overturned his 1952 murder conviction. On December 30, 1971, he shot and killed two men in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He was convicted of two counts of murder and sentenced to life. He died in prison on May 16, 2002.
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Assistant Superintendent Johnson gave the Virginia Department of Corrections 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Virginia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Assistant Superintendent Johnson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Virginia Department of Corrections has lost 16 officers; 8 of them killed feloniously.
Hugh is one of 393 officers killed feloniously in VA, 60.2% of the 653 remembered there.
Hugh is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Hugh is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1965, 2 officers at Virginia Department of Corrections were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1965, 3 officers in VA were killed feloniously, the 40th heaviest of 136 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 10.
In 1965, 78 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 89th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1965, 80 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 91st heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Hugh was 43. Of the 8 killed feloniously at Virginia Department of Corrections whose age is recorded, half were between 42.3 and 52.3; the middle age was 44.5. Hugh had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Hugh was 43. Of the 364 killed feloniously in VA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 48; the middle age was 38. Hugh had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Hugh was 43. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Hugh had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Hugh was 43. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Hugh had served 15 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 25% of these deaths at Virginia Department of Corrections, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 12.5%.
January holds 5.9% of these deaths in VA; December holds the most, 10.4%. Tuesdays: 13%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 50% of all 16 deaths at Virginia Department of Corrections, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 25% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 60.2% of all 653 deaths in VA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 1.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 2.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was edged weapon, in 2% of these deaths.
His people
Virginia Department of Corrections has 16 officers remembered here, Hugh among them.
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Leonard Otoway Page Feb 2, 1906
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Supra C. Woodroof Feb 29, 1908
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Powhatan Dance Bass Jun 16, 1936
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McCarthy Taylor Dec 24, 1957
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Hilton Edward Bland
Sep 11, 1963
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James C. Vanneter
Jan 18, 1965
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Hugh Lucas Johnson
Jan 19, 1965
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Samuel Anderson Pickels
Jul 23, 1971
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Raul M. Monte
Nov 22, 1971
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Ronald Albert Barnes
Mar 24, 1975
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Henry McCoy Townes, Jr. Jan 6, 1981
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Rodolfo Felix Guillen, Jr.
Jun 14, 1982
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Joel A. Legaspi
Jan 21, 2018
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Wendy Nicole Harris-Rigney
Jun 19, 2020
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Earl R. Barksdale
Sep 9, 2020
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Jeremy Lewis Hall
Nov 17, 2025
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Virginia Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
