Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Harold Shelton was shot and killed while chasing a shooting suspect through an alley near 7th Street and L Street, NW. Officer Shelton and his partner were returning to the station at the end of their shift when a citizen reported the shooting. During the chase, the suspect hid in a doorway and shot Officer Shelton as he passed by. The suspect was found guilty of Officer Shelton's murder and sentenced to 9 to 28 years in prison.
Survivors
Officer Shelton had been employed with the Metropolitan Police Department for one year, and is survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-DC-363B7A11- 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.
Officer Shelton gave the Metropolitan Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Shelton.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Harold K. Shelton 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 Metropolitan Police Department, 70 of 131 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Harold K. Shelton's cause is highlighted.
How Harold K. Shelton Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 28 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Harold K. Shelton is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Harold K. Shelton was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
130 officers from Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
