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Richard Varn Woods
Agency patch
Corporal

Richard Varn Woods

South Carolina Highway Patrol — Blythewood, SC
Felonious
United States flag South Carolina flag
End of Watch August 19, 1969
Age 34
The Vigil Panel 105 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 51

Incident

Corporal Richard Varn Woods was shot and killed near Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station while attempting to arrest three robbery suspects. The shooting occurred as he attempted to stop a vehicle for speeding. Unbeknownst to Woods, the occupants had just committed an armed robbery. Trooper Woods died from his wounds four days later. The suspect was extradited to South Carolina from Georgia in 1985 to continue his life sentence after escaping in 1971. The murderer was denied parole for the seventh time in March 2004 and later died in prison on May 11, 2008. Corporal Woods served with the South Carolina Highway Patrol for nine years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Corporal Woods served with the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of South Carolina. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Woods.

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

Agency

Department South Carolina Highway Patrol
Type Highway Patrol
Location Blythewood, Fairfield County, SC
Platform Identity schp.sc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 19, 1969
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Richard is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1969, 124 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 40th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Richard was 34. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

South Carolina Highway Patrol has 52 officers remembered here, Richard among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Corporal Richard Varn Woods

South Carolina Highway Patrol · End of Watch August 19, 1969

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 22-W

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