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Deputy Sheriff

Lonnie Lewis Freeman

Richmond Sheriff's Office — Richmond, VA

Felonious

End of Watch September 2, 1984

Age 32

The Vigil Panel 128 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Lonnie Freeman was assaulted and strangulated by juvenile inmates at the Richmond City Jail.

The inmates attacked him during an escape attempt, tied him up and stuffed a cloth into his mouth. The cloth prevented him from breathing and he suffocated. The escape attempt was thwarted when another sheriff's deputy saw the juveniles outside of their cellblock and sounded an alarm.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-859E53EE
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Freeman served with the Richmond Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Freeman.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Richmond Sheriff's Office

Location Richmond, VA

Platform Identity rso.richmond.va.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 2, 1984

Age 32

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Person

Offender Cause: Assault

Deputy Sheriff Lonnie Lewis Freeman 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 Richmond Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Richmond Sheriff's Office

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lonnie Lewis Freeman's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Lonnie Lewis Freeman Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Cause: Assault

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lonnie Lewis Freeman is highlighted in Sep.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lonnie Lewis Freeman was killed by person.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Richmond Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.