James Joseph Biello
Agency patch
Detective

James Joseph Biello

Atlanta Police Department — Atlanta, GA
Felonious
End of Watch July 28, 2019
Age 68
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
The Vigil Panel 170 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective J.J. Biello succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained on April 15th, 1987, while working a secondary employment job at Provino’s Italian Restaurant at 4387 Roswell Road NE.

An armed juvenile entered the restaurant and announced a robbery. As he had an employee remove money from the cash register Detective Biello approached him from behind and identified himself. The juvenile turned around and opened fire, striking Detective Biello in the chest and abdomen. Detective Biello was able to return fire, wounding the suspect who then shot him in the neck and fled.

As the subject left the scene another officer fired shots at him. The injured suspect was arrested a short time later.

Detective Biello's wounds rendered him a quadriplegic and he was confined to a wheelchair. On July 28th, 2019, he succumbed to complications from the original gunshot wounds.

The subject who shot him was convicted of aggravated assault and armed robbery and sentenced to 60 years following the initial incident.

At the time of the shooting Detective Biello had served with the Atlanta Police Department for 15 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-GA-FAB9663B
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.
Detective Biello gave the Atlanta Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Atlanta community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Biello.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Atlanta, Fulton County, GA
Platform Identity apd.fulton.ga.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 28, 2019
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 68
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Detective James Joseph Biello 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 GA, 549 of 905 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.7% of this state's fallen. That is 60.7 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Atlanta Police Department, 58 of 88 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.9% of this agency's fallen.

Atlanta Police Department
58
of 88 officers
65.9% Felonious
GA — Statewide
549
of 905 officers
60.7% 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. James Joseph Biello's cause is highlighted.

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

How James Joseph Biello Compares

Age at Death
68
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
15
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Joseph Biello is highlighted in Jul.

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. James Joseph Biello was killed by handgun.

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

Incident Location