Ricky Marshall McCoy
Agency patch
Trooper

Ricky Marshall McCoy

Virginia State Police — North Chesterfield, VA
Felonious
End of Watch January 3, 1986
Age 29
Tour of Duty 5 yrs 6 mo
Badge 1551
The Vigil Panel 130 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Trooper Ricky McCoy was shot and killed after responding to reports of a vehicle being driven erratically on I-81 near Salem, Virginia. As he approached the vehicle, the suspects ambushed him and wounded him. As he attempted to crawl back to his patrol car, one of the suspects shot and killed him. The men had just stolen the vehicle from the Front Royal area after shooting the owner. After shooting Trooper McCoy, the suspects ran to a nearby residence, killed one of the residents, kidnapped the man's wife, and stole their van. A chase ensued in which the men shot and killed the hostage before both committed suicide. Trooper McCoy had served with the Virginia State Police for 5.5 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, parents, sister, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-69E1B7FB
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.
Trooper McCoy gave the Virginia State Police 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Virginia. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Trooper McCoy.

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

Agency

Type State Police
Location North Chesterfield, VA
Platform Identity vsp.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 3, 1986
Tour of Duty 5 yrs 6 mo
Age 29
Badge Number 1551
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Trooper Ricky Marshall McCoy 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 Virginia State Police, 19 of 52 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.5% of this agency's fallen.

Virginia State Police
19
of 52 officers
36.5% Felonious
VA — Statewide
394
of 656 officers
60.1% 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. Ricky Marshall McCoy's cause is highlighted.

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

How Ricky Marshall McCoy Compares

Age at Death
29
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
5.5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ricky Marshall McCoy is highlighted in Jan.

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. Ricky Marshall McCoy was killed by gun.

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

Incident Location