Thomas Francis McMahon
Agency patch
Police Officer

Thomas Francis McMahon

Richmond Police Department — Richmond, VA
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch October 14, 1998
Age 46
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Badge 365
The Vigil Panel 145 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Thomas McMahon was shot and killed after a vehicle was chased into Richmond from an adjoining jurisdiction. An officer from the Henrico County Police Department attempted to stop the suspect on I-95 after reports that he was driving erratically. The suspect then led the officer on a slow-speed chase through a shopping center and fired several shots at the officer. Richmond Police joined the chase and were able to stop the truck near 26th and S streets. The suspect then opened fire from inside his truck, striking Officer McMahon in the upper body, abdomen, and arm. Although he was wearing a Kevlar vest, the fatal shot struck him in the femoral artery, causing him to bleed to death. Officer McMahon had not yet exited his vehicle before being shot. The suspect then held other officers at bay for several hours before opening fire on them again. Officers returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect. Officer McMahon was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Richmond Police Department for 20 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his fiancee, his mother, and his father.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-F62B5B2C
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 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.
Police Officer McMahon gave the Richmond Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Richmond, VA
Platform Identity rpd.richmond.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 14, 1998
Tour of Duty 20 yrs
Age 46
Badge Number 365
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Military Service

Thomas Francis McMahon served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer Thomas Francis McMahon 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 Richmond Police Department, 20 of 40 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Richmond Police Department
20
of 40 officers
50% Felonious
VA — Statewide
394
of 655 officers
60.2% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Francis McMahon's cause is highlighted.

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

How Thomas Francis McMahon Compares

Age at Death
46
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
20
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Francis McMahon is highlighted in Oct.

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. Thomas Francis McMahon 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

Military Service

Thomas Francis McMahon served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

Visit Thomas Francis McMahon’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.