Roll of Honor
William H. Christian, Jr.
Incident
Special Agent Billy Christian was shot and killed in the parking lot of Greenbelt Middle School in Greenbelt, Maryland, while conducting a stakeout. Special Agent Christian was working with a task force searching for the murderer of Corporal John Novabilski, of the Prince George's County Police Department. During the stakeout, the suspect snuck up behind Agent Christian's department vehicle, in the same manner as he snuck up on Corporal Novabilski, and shot him several times. The suspect was immediately chased by other agents and officers and committed suicide when he was surrounded. Agent Christian was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 20 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AA52719E- 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 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.
Special Agent Christian gave the United States Department of Justice 20 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William H. Christian, Jr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Special Agent William H. Christian, Jr. 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, 37 of 89 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 41.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William H. Christian, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How William H. Christian, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William H. Christian, Jr. is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William H. Christian, Jr. was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
88 officers from United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
