Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant John Conner was shot and killed after responding to a report of a man sitting on his front porch with an AR-15 rifle and firing shots in the air. As police units arrived, the suspect entered his townhouse and exited the rear door. Sergeant Conner was approaching the rear of the townhouse when he encountered the suspect. Shots were exchanged, with the suspect being shot in the foot and Sergeant Conner being shot three times. The suspect was taken into custody by other officers. Sergeant Conner was transported to a local hospital and then flown to Fairfax Hospital where he died several few hours later. The fatal wound was a gunshot to the back of Sergeant Conner's head. The investigation revealed the suspect had been involved in an argument earlier in the day with his wife and was upset. The suspect was later convicted of murder and sentenced to death. He was executed nine years later. Sergeant Conner succumbed to his injuries the next day. Sergeant Conner was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Manassas Police Department for eight years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-72B88C2B- 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.
Sergeant Conner gave the Manassas Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Manassas 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John David Conner, III served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sergeant John David Conner, III 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. John David Conner, III's cause is highlighted.
How John David Conner, III Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John David Conner, III is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John David Conner, III was killed by rifle; ar-15.