Gregory W. Spinelli
Agency patch
Special Agent

Gregory W. Spinelli

Felonious
End of Watch March 15, 1973
Age 24
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
The Vigil Panel 111 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Special Agent Gregory Spinelli was shot and killed in Charlotte, North Carolina, while attempted to arrest a bank robbery suspect. He and another agent were staking out a hotel room and attempting to make an arrest as two suspects left. One of the suspects was taken into custody but the other fled through a wooded area into a construction zone. As Agent Spinelli entered the rear entrance the suspect opened fire, fatally wounding him. The man, 34, was convicted and sentenced to life for the murder. He died on January 23, 1988, at the U.S. Medical Center for federal inmates in Springfield, Missouri. Agent Spinelli had served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for one year.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-07F55A68
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

You barely got started.
Special Agent Spinelli gave the United States Department of Justice 1 year.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Spinelli.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch March 15, 1973
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 24
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Died in prison

Special Agent Gregory W. Spinelli 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

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 1,419 officers
53.1% 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. Gregory W. Spinelli'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 Gregory W. Spinelli Compares

Age at End of Watch
24
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Died in prison

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gregory W. Spinelli is highlighted in Mar.

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. Gregory W. Spinelli was killed by gun; unknown type.

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