Roger L. Von Amelunxen
Agency patch
Customs Officer

Roger L. Von Amelunxen

Felonious
End of Watch July 30, 1980
Age 41
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
The Vigil Panel 123 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Customs Officer Roger Von Amelunxen was shot and killed near the intersection of 72nd Street and 34th Avenue, in Queens, New York, after observing the robbery of a cab driver at 3:20 am. He was on his way home from his shift at Kennedy Airport when he intervened in the robbery even though he was off duty. A shootout ensued and Officer Von Amelunxen was struck in the heart with a .22 caliber round. The case remained unsolved until 1986 when four men were charged with his murder. Officer Von Amelunxen had served with the United States Customs Service for nine years and had previously served with the Federal Air Marshal Service.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-ED4BD502
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Roger. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Customs Officer Von Amelunxen gave the United States Department of the Treasury 9 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Customs Officer Von Amelunxen.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdtuscsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 30, 1980
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Customs Officer Roger L. Von Amelunxen 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 97,784 officers honored here.

In DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service, 47 of 94 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service
47
of 94 officers
50% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,418 officers
53.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,784 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Roger L. Von Amelunxen's cause is highlighted.

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

How Roger L. Von Amelunxen Compares

Age at Death
41
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
9
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Roger L. Von Amelunxen 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. Roger L. Von Amelunxen 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