Roll of Honor
Incident
Corporal Richard Varn Woods was shot and killed near Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station while attempting to arrest three robbery suspects. The shooting occurred as he attempted to stop a vehicle for speeding. Unbeknownst to Woods, the occupants had just committed an armed robbery. Trooper Woods died from his wounds four days later. The suspect was extradited to South Carolina from Georgia in 1985 to continue his life sentence after escaping in 1971. The murderer was denied parole for the seventh time in March 2004 and later died in prison on May 11, 2008. Corporal Woods served with the South Carolina Highway Patrol for nine years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-SC-773B3DBC- 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.
Corporal Woods served with the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of South Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Woods.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corporal Richard Varn Woods 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 97,775 officers honored here.
In SC, 272 of 442 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.5% of this state's fallen. That is 61.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At South Carolina Highway Patrol, 20 of 52 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 38.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Varn Woods's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Varn Woods Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Varn Woods is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Varn Woods was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
51 officers from South Carolina Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
