Roll of Honor
Ronald A. Barnes
Incident
Correctional Officer Ronald Barnes died from acute head injuries after he was beaten by two inmates, both 19, during an attempted escape at the Southampton Correctional Center a few hours earlier. The two kicked Officer Barnes in the head several times and then robbed him and another guard. They unlocked all the cells, but only a few joined them in their escape. All were captured. Some of the inmates helped with their capture. Both were new inmates, sentenced to 25-year terms, one for murder, the other for rape. In 1976, both were sentenced to death plus 25 years for robbery and escape. In October of 1976, their death sentences were commuted to life. As of October 30, 2022, one was still in prison. The other was listed as a prison inmate in 1997. Officer Barnes was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the Virginia Department of Corrections for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-C53D6FA0- 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.
Correctional Officer Barnes gave the Virginia Department of Corrections 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Virginia, 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
Ronald A. Barnes served in the Air Force (1967â1968) before joining law enforcement.
Correctional Officer Ronald A. Barnes 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 Virginia Department of Corrections, 8 of 16 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. Ronald A. Barnes's cause is highlighted.
How Ronald A. Barnes Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ronald A. Barnes is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ronald A. Barnes was killed by person.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Virginia Department of Corrections are honored on badge.nw.
