Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Willie Young was shot and killed while attempting to serve a lunacy warrant on a suspect. During the arrest the suspect and the suspect's sister opened fire on Sheriff Young's posse, killing him and wounding four other officers. After several hours of trying to talk the suspects out of their house a deputy soaked his shirt in gasoline, lit it on fire, and tossed it onto the house, causing it to catch fire. As the suspects attempted to exit the home they were shot and killed by officers and citizens numbering almost 2,000 people.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-0B0D4850- 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.
Sheriff Young served with the Orange County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Orange community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Young.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff William B. "Willie" Young 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 Orange County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William B. "Willie" Young's cause is highlighted.
How William B. "Willie" Young Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William B. "Willie" Young is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William B. "Willie" Young was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Orange County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
