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Police Officer

Thomas Francis "Mongo" McMahon

Richmond Police Department — Richmond, VA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch October 14, 1998

Age 46

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

Badge 365

The Vigil Panel 145 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 39

Incident

Police Officer Thomas McMahon was shot and killed after a vehicle was chased into Richmond from an adjoining jurisdiction. An officer from the Henrico County Police Department attempted to stop the suspect on I-95 after reports that he was driving erratically. The suspect then led the officer on a slow-speed chase through a shopping center and fired several shots at the officer. Richmond Police joined the chase and were able to stop the truck near 26th and S streets. The suspect then opened fire from inside his truck, striking Officer McMahon in the upper body, abdomen, and arm. Although he was wearing a Kevlar vest, the fatal shot struck him in the femoral artery, causing him to bleed to death. Officer McMahon had not yet exited his vehicle before being shot. The suspect then held other officers at bay for several hours before opening fire on them again. Officers returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect. Officer McMahon was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Richmond Police Department for 20 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his fiancee, his mother, and his father.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-VA-F62B5B2C
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.
Police Officer McMahon gave the Richmond Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond 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

Department Richmond Police Department

Location Richmond, VA

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

Service Record

End of Watch October 14, 1998

Tour of Duty 20 yrs

Age 46

Badge Number 365

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Shot and killed

Military Service

Thomas Francis "Mongo" McMahon served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer Thomas Francis "Mongo" McMahon 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 Police Department, 20 of 40 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Richmond Police Department

of 40 officers

50% Felonious

VA — Statewide

395

of 654 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious