Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Allen Gibson was shot and killed after confronting two male suspects in the midst of a drug deal while on foot patrol in a wooded area behind the Waverly Village Apartments at 600 Amherst Lane in Waverly. Upon confronting the suspects, a struggle ensued, and Officer Gibson was shot once in the abdomen with his own weapon. The round struck the edge of his bullet-proof vest. He was taken to a hospital where he succumbed to his wound. One suspect who shot Patrolman Gibson was arrested the following day, and the second suspect was later arrested. The prosecutor struck a plea bargain with the two suspects, who were originally charged with capital murder, against Patrolman Gibson's family's wishes. On Dec. 8, 1999, the shooter pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The second suspect pleaded guilty to acting as an accessory after the fact and was sentenced to 5 years in prison. In 2002, both suspects were tried in federal courts and convicted of the drug offense that led to Officer Gibson's murder. Both men were sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole. In 2025, President Joseph Biden granted both men clemency, to be released in July 2025. Officer Gibson had served with the 6-person Waverly Police Department for only 2 months and had a total of 2 years of law enforcement experience.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and 8-year-old daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-158663DF- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Gibson gave the Waverly Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Waverly community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Gibson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Allen William Gibson, Jr. is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 officers honored here.
In VA, 394 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.2% of this state's fallen. That is 6.3 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Allen William Gibson, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Allen William Gibson, Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Allen William Gibson, Jr. is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Allen William Gibson, Jr. was killed by officer's handgun.