Roll of Honor
Incident
Master Police Officer Michael Garbarino succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained 9 days earlier when a suspect opened fire on him and other officers in the parking lot of the Sully District Station on Stonecroft Boulevard in Chantilly.
The suspect had carjacked a van moments earlier and drove into the police station's back parking lot. The suspect exited the vehicle and opened fire with a hunting rifle on Officer Garbarino, who was sitting in his patrol car, striking him five times.
Despite being critically wounded, Officer Garbarino was able to broadcast a warning to other officers not to exit the back of the police station.
Detective Vicky Armel, who was also in the parking lot, immediately engaged the suspect and exchanged shots with the man. She was fatally wounded during the exchange. Several officers who responded to the parking lot also exchanged shots with the shooter, killing him. In addition to the hunting rifle, the killer was armed with five handguns and another rifle.
Master Police Officer Garbarino and Detective Armel were flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital by members of the agency's helicopter division.
Investigation revealed that the 18-year-old killer had been arrested by Fairfax County police officers two weeks earlier for a carjacking he had committed in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Master Police Officer Garbarino had served with the Fairfax County Police Department for 23 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two children, parents, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-67128775- 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
23 years. You could have gone home.
Master Police Officer Garbarino gave the Fairfax County Police Department 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Fairfax community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Master Police Officer Garbarino.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Master Police Officer Michael E. Garbarino 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 VA, 394 of 656 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.1% of this state's fallen. That is 60.1 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Fairfax County Police Department, 2 of 8 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael E. Garbarino's cause is highlighted.
How Michael E. Garbarino Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael E. Garbarino is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael E. Garbarino was killed by rifle; .30-.06.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Fairfax County Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
