Walter E. Snow

Virginia State Convict Road Force — Richmond, VA

Felonious

End of Watch March 1, 1921

Age 35

The Vigil Panel 40 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Guard Walter Snow was shot and killed when he was attacked by an inmate during an escape attempt from a work crew assigned to Convict Camp 8 in Orange County. The inmates were working on a road construction project on Route 15 near the Culpeper County line.

The inmate, along with six others, had planned to escape by using the noise of the road making machinery to prevent the guards from hearing them. Guard Snow confronted the men as they escaped but was struck on the head with a hammer and knocked unconcious. One of the inmates then took his rifle and shot him in the abdomen.

Guard Snow was taken to the University of Virginia Hospital where he died later that night.

The inmates fled into the woods toward Culpeper. The inmate who planned the escape was captured quickly. The other inmates were captured over the next two days. The inmate who planned the escape and the inmate who shot Guard Snow were both sentenced to death. One was executed on April 4th, 1922, and the other was executed on May 26th, 1922.

Walter, On today, the 100th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of the state of California. There is no tougher job in Law Enforcement than that of a Corrections Officer.

R.I.P. USBP

Anonymous United States Border Patrol March 1st, 2021

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-0B3233AC
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.
Guard Snow served with the Virginia State Convict Road Force.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Guard Snow.

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

Agency

Department Virginia State Convict Road Force

Location Richmond, VA

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

Service Record

End of Watch March 1, 1921

Age 35

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Officer's rifle

Offender Executed in 1922

Guard Walter E. Snow 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 Virginia State Convict Road Force, 5 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.6% of this agency's fallen.

Virginia State Convict Road Force

of 9 officers

55.6% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious