Incident
Police Officer Stanley Reaves was shot and killed after being flagged down by a citizen near the intersection of West 27th Street and DeBree Avenue.
The citizen informed him that a person in the area was acting suspiciously. Officer Reaves pulled around the corner, exited his patrol car, and approached the suspicious person. Without warning, the subject, 29, produced a handgun and immediately opened fire, striking Officer Reaves.
Officer Reaves was transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The suspect fled the area and was arrested in White Plains, New York, on November 2nd, 2005. He was charged with capital murder of a police officer, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and grand larceny. On March 7th, 2007, he was found guilty of all three counts and sentenced to death, plus 22 years on the additional charges. The sentence was later commuted to life in prison without parole.
Officer Reaves had served with the Norfolk Police Department for only one year. He had previously served with the Baltimore City, Maryland, Police Department for 11 years.
Survivors
Survivors include his wife and two young children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-A34B62FA- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Reaves gave the Norfolk Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Norfolk community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Reaves.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Stanley Cornell Reaves is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Norfolk Police Dept., 20 of 39 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Stanley Cornell Reaves's cause is highlighted.
How Stanley Cornell Reaves Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death; commuted to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Stanley Cornell Reaves is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Stanley Cornell Reaves was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
38 officers from Norfolk Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















