Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Corney McNish was shot and killed by a suspect who was holding his four sons hostage after murdering his wife, aunt, and aunt's friend in Marion the previous night. After the murders, the man returned to his home on the outskirts of Glade Spring and barricaded himself inside with his children and other family members as hostages. A fire started in the home after officers fired tear gas into it about 10 hours into the standoff. Deputy McNish was on the back porch of the home attempting to put out the fire when the suspect shot him in the chest with a rifle. The suspect then fled from the house and committed suicide minutes later. Deputy McNish had served with the Washington County Sheriff's Office for 30 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-8DA61EB7- 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
30 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff McNish gave the Washington County Sheriff's Office 30 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Abingdon community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff McNish.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Orville "Corney" McNish 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 Washington County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Orville "Corney" McNish's cause is highlighted.
How Orville "Corney" McNish Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Orville "Corney" McNish is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Orville "Corney" McNish was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Washington County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
