Roll of Honor
Antonio Joselito "Joe" Sapinoso
Incident
Investigator Sapinoso was shot and killed after being taken hostage when he arrived home from his shift.
He was in uniform and exiting his patrol car when the suspect, who had been involved in a domestic disturbance with Investigator Sapinoso's sister, approached him at gunpoint and disarmed him. Investigator Sapinoso had intervened in the previous incident as a deputy and as her brother.
The suspect handcuffed Investigator Sapinoso with the deputy's own handcuffs. He took him inside his home where he forced the deputy to call his father into the living room. The suspect held both men at gunpoint for several hours during a standoff with SWAT officers. At 4:20 am, the suspect told negotiators he was coming out of the house but then, without warning, shot and killed Investigator Sapinoso and his father. The suspect then surrendered.
The man was convicted of Investigator Sapinoso's murder and was sentenced to death.
Investigator Sapinoso had served with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office for 6 years, and was assigned to the White Collar Crime Unit.
He is survived by his mother and sister.
Survivors
He is survived by his mother and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-8F96CBD1- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Investigator Sapinoso gave the Greenville County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Greenville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Investigator Sapinoso.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Investigator Antonio Joselito "Joe" Sapinoso 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Greenville County Sheriff's Office, 14 of 17 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 82.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Antonio Joselito "Joe" Sapinoso's cause is highlighted.
How Antonio Joselito "Joe" Sapinoso Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Antonio Joselito "Joe" Sapinoso is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Antonio Joselito "Joe" Sapinoso was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Greenville County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
