Edwin R. Woodriffe
Agency patch
Special Agent

Edwin R. Woodriffe

Felonious
End of Watch January 8, 1969
Age 27
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 105 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Special Agent Edwin Woodriffe and Special Agent Anthony Palmisano were shot and killed in an apartment building on Yuma Street SE in Washington, DC, while attempting to arrest an escapee from the Lorton Reformatory who had robbed a bank earlier in the morning. The subject had robbed a bank in Prince George's County, Maryland, but was recognized by the teller as being on a wanted poster. The two agents, along with a third agent, were sent to the apartment of the subject's ex-wife in an attempt to locate him. The man exited the woman's apartment and opened fire, killing Agent Palisano and Agent Woodriffe. The third agent returned fire but did not strike the man, who was taken into custody later in the day. The man was convicted of both murders and sentenced to two life terms in prison. Agent Woodriffe had served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for two years and previously served with the United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-3F64E35C
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
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.
Special Agent Woodriffe gave the United States Department of Justice 2 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Woodriffe.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdjfbifed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 8, 1969
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 27
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Special Agent Edwin R. Woodriffe is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, 37 of 89 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 41.6% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation
37
of 89 officers
41.6% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,418 officers
53.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edwin R. Woodriffe's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Edwin R. Woodriffe Compares

Age at Death
27
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edwin R. Woodriffe is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Edwin R. Woodriffe was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location