Roll of Honor
Incident
Special Constable Beasley was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man wanted for stealing a handgun earlier in the day.
The victim of the theft made a complaint to the local justice of the peace, who swore in Mr. Beasley as a special constable in order to arrest the suspect.
Special Constable Beasley located the subject on the 2800 block of North Landing Road, about a one mile from the Princess Anne County Courthouse. When the constable informed the suspect he was under arrest, the man immediately pulled out the pistol and opened fire, striking Constable Beasley in the neck and head, killing him.
The suspect fled the scene but was later arrested by a posse. The man was transferred to the Norfolk City Jail for his own safety. On October 3, 1898, a grand jury recommended his case be tried, and on December 6, 1898, he was sentenced to death by hanging.
Special Constable Beasley had only been sworn in hours before he was murdered.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-5B35CEE3- 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
128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Special Constable Beasley served with the Princess Anne County.
Thank you for your service to the Virginia Beach community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Constable Malachi J. Beasley 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 Princess Anne County, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Malachi J. Beasley's cause is highlighted.
How Malachi J. Beasley Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Malachi J. Beasley is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Malachi J. Beasley was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Princess Anne County are honored on badge.nw.
