Incident
Sergeant Manuel Trenary was shot and killed while investigating a burglary in progress at a diner on North Liberty Street. He was struck twice by .25 caliber bullets while exchanging gunfire with the suspect. No suspects were ever identified and his murder has never been solved. Sergeant Trenary had served with the Harrisonburg Police Department for 26 years. He was survived by his wife. In November 2013 a new section of the Erickson Avenue Connector was dedicated in his honor.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-9F111FD1- 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
26 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Trenary gave the Harrisonburg Police Department 26 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Harrisonburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Trenary.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Manuel Walker Trenary 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 VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Manuel Walker Trenary's cause is highlighted.
How Manuel Walker Trenary Compares
Offender Outcome
Never identified
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Manuel Walker Trenary is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Manuel Walker Trenary was killed by handgun; .25 caliber.