Ronald A. Barnes

Virginia Department of Corrections — Richmond, VA

Veteran → Felonious

End of Watch March 24, 1975

Age 28

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

The Vigil Panel 115 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 15

Incident

Correctional Officer Ronald Barnes died from acute head injuries after he was beaten by two inmates, both 19, during an attempted escape at the Southampton Correctional Center a few hours earlier. The two kicked Officer Barnes in the head several times and then robbed him and another guard. They unlocked all the cells, but only a few joined them in their escape. All were captured. Some of the inmates helped with their capture. Both were new inmates, sentenced to 25-year terms, one for murder, the other for rape. In 1976, both were sentenced to death plus 25 years for robbery and escape. In October of 1976, their death sentences were commuted to life. As of October 30, 2022, one was still in prison. The other was listed as a prison inmate in 1997. Officer Barnes was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the Virginia Department of Corrections for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-C53D6FA0
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Air Force. One record, 2 gates. Ronald is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Correctional Officer Barnes gave the Virginia Department of Corrections 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Virginia, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Virginia Department of Corrections

Type Corrections

Location Richmond, VA

Platform Identity vdcorr.richmond.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 24, 1975

Tour of Duty 4 yrs

Age 28

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Person

Military Service

Ronald A. Barnes served in the U.S. Air Force (1967â1968) before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Correctional Officer Ronald A. Barnes 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 97,759 officers honored here.

In VA, 394 of 655 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.2% of this state's fallen. That is 60.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Virginia Department of Corrections, 8 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Virginia Department of Corrections

of 16 officers

50% Felonious

VA — Statewide

394

of 655 officers

60.2% Felonious

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Felonious