Roll of Honor
Incident
Location: Virginia Weapon: Handgun Offender: Sentenced to 20 years
Captain Earl Compton was shot and killed by a disgruntled police employee inside a conference room in the basement of the old Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
Captain Compton and several other members of the police administration were discussing a new promotion policy when the sergeant entered the room and opened fire. Captain Compton was killed and three other members of the administration were wounded.
The 52-year-old sergeant who shot them was immediately arrested and charged with murder and three counts of malicious wounding. He was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Captain Compton was a U.S. Navy veteran.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two daughters, mother, brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-B8699CD6- 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.
Captain Compton served with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Police.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Earl R. Compton served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Captain Earl R. Compton 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. Earl R. Compton's cause is highlighted.
How Earl R. Compton Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 20 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Earl R. Compton is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Earl R. Compton was killed by handgun.