Incident
Deputy Armeni was shot and killed when he and his partner attempted to serve committal papers to a man in a rural part of King County. As the deputies entered the living room the man ran out of his room and opened fire, fatally wounding Deputy Armeni. The man then ran outside where he shot and wounded another deputy who returned fire critically wounding him. The 27-year-old suspect was judged insane and committed in a mental institution in Lakewood where he died on February 7, 1971.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-22F5B449- 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 Armeni served with the King County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Seattle community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Armeni.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Donald A. Armeni 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 WA, 187 of 339 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At King County Sheriffs Dept., 11 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald A. Armeni's cause is highlighted.
How Donald A. Armeni Compares
Offender Outcome
Died in mental hospital
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Donald A. Armeni is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Donald A. Armeni was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from King County Sheriffs Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.













