Charles Alvin Snider

Charleston Police Dept. — Charleston, SC

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch March 2, 1979

Age 53

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

The Vigil Panel 121 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 23

Incident

Patrolman Charles Snider was killed with his own service revolver while attempting to arrest a shoplifting suspect in a George Street parking lot behind the Gloria Theater at 5:20 pm. The manager of Kress and Co. at 281 King Street said a man walked out of the store with stolen earrings and hair grease, valued at less than $15, just after 5:00 pm. The manager attempted to apprehend the man in the parking lot. The suspect pulled off his red turtleneck sweater and challenged the manager. A bystander notified Patrolman Snider, who regularly worked the King Street beat. Patrolman Snider then attempted to arrest the man. The suspect wrestled Patrolman Snider’s gun away and shot him at point-blank range in the head and in the right leg. The suspect kept the pistol and ran from the parking lot with his two companions. Three subjects were arrested after a 27-hour manhunt by police. One subject pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life on April 4, 1980. Patrolman Snider was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War and Vietnam War and served with the Charleston Police Department for 13 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-SC-D8D0DD76
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.
Patrolman Snider gave the Charleston Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Charleston 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

Department Charleston Police Dept.

Location Charleston, SC

Platform Identity cpd.charleston.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 2, 1979

Tour of Duty 13 yrs

Age 53

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

Charles Alvin Snider served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Charles Alvin Snider 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 SC, 271 of 438 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.9% of this state's fallen. That is 7.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Charleston Police Dept., 12 of 24 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Charleston Police Dept.

of 24 officers

50% Felonious

SC — Statewide

271

of 438 officers

61.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious