Roll of Honor
Incident
Mayor Stuart Sutherland succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained two weeks earlier while attempting to arrest a subject at the Dickenson County fairgrounds on a warrant for fighting.
As Mayor Sutherland arrested him the man jerked free and opened fire, shooting Mayor Sutherland three times before the mayor could return fire. One of the bullets passed through him, fatally wounding another man. The subject fled the scene but was arrested by a former sheriff's deputy who had followed him to his home.
Mayor Sutherland was taken to Sutherland Hospital where he remained until succumbing to his wounds.
The subject was convicted of Mayor Sutherland's murder and sentenced to life in prison.
The Clintwood town charter gave the mayor all the powers and authorities of a justice of the peace of Dickenson County.
Survivors
Mayor Sutherland was survived by his wife and parents.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-VA-0A080A10- Stewardship
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- 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.
Mayor Sutherland served with the Town of Clintwood.
Thank you for your service to the Clintwood community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Mayor Sutherland.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Mayor Stuart McGuire Sutherland 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Stuart McGuire Sutherland's cause is highlighted.
How Stuart McGuire Sutherland Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Stuart McGuire Sutherland is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Stuart McGuire Sutherland was killed by handgun.