Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Samuel Hayden was shot and killed by a shooting suspect who was hiding in a hall closet at 950 Westminster Street, NW. The man had been released from St. Elizabeth's Mental Hospital and had randomly shot two men before entering a house of the second victim. The officers were advised the man was hiding in a third floor bedroom. As the officers prepared to enter the bedroom the man opened fire from a hall closet, striking Officer Hayden in the head. One of the officers returned fire, striking and fatally wounding the suspect. Officer Hayden had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for 11 years.
Survivors
He was survived by two brothers and two sisters and was buried in Lodge, Westmoreland County, Virginia.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-DC-A85BA60E- 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.
Officer Hayden gave the Metropolitan Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Hayden.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Samuel C. Hayden 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 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 Metropolitan Police Department, 70 of 131 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel C. Hayden's cause is highlighted.
How Samuel C. Hayden Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel C. Hayden is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel C. Hayden was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
130 officers from Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
