Alexander McKie Cochran, III
Agency patch
Trooper

Alexander McKie Cochran, III

Virginia State Police — North Chesterfield, VA
Felonious Veteran
End of Watch January 15, 1987
Age 27
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 131 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Alexander Cochran was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance at 9848 Hagel Circle, in his neighborhood in Fairfax County, at approximately 9:30 pm. Trooper Cochran was off duty when he heard a gunshot and a woman's scream near his home on Hagel Circle, in the Lorton area. He ran into his home to get his service weapon and as he came back outside to investigate he was shot in the back and head with by a man who was firing a shotgun out of his second-floor window. He collapsed to the ground next to his patrol car. An Army sergeant who lived in the neighborhood was also shot and killed when he came out of his home. The suspect was arrested at the scene and charged with two counts of murder and one count of malicious wounding. He was later convicted during his trial. Trooper Cochran was a member of the Virginia Army National Guard and had served with the Virginia State Police for two years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-EDFA4132
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Trooper Cochran gave the Virginia State Police 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Virginia, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location North Chesterfield, VA
Platform Identity vsp.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 15, 1987
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 27
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun
Offender Convicted of murder

Military Service

Alexander McKie Cochran, III served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Trooper Alexander McKie Cochran, III is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Virginia State Police, 19 of 52 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.5% of this agency's fallen.

Virginia State Police
19
of 52 officers
36.5% Felonious
VA — Statewide
395
of 654 officers
60.4% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Alexander McKie Cochran, III's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Alexander McKie Cochran, III Compares

Age at End of Watch
27
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Convicted of murder

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Alexander McKie Cochran, III is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Alexander McKie Cochran, III was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location