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Antonio Joselito Sapinoso
Incident
Investigator Sapinoso was shot and killed after being taken hostage when he arrived home from his shift.
He was in uniform and exiting his patrol car when the suspect, who had been involved in a domestic disturbance with Investigator Sapinoso's sister, approached him at gunpoint and disarmed him. Investigator Sapinoso had intervened in the previous incident as a deputy and as her brother.
The suspect handcuffed Investigator Sapinoso with the deputy's own handcuffs. He took him inside his home where he forced the deputy to call his father into the living room. The suspect held both men at gunpoint for several hours during a standoff with SWAT officers. At 4:20 am, the suspect told negotiators he was coming out of the house but then, without warning, shot and killed Investigator Sapinoso and his father. The suspect then surrendered.
The man was convicted of Investigator Sapinoso's murder and was sentenced to death.
Investigator Sapinoso had served with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office for 6 years, and was assigned to the White Collar Crime Unit.
He is survived by his mother and sister.
Survivors
He is survived by his mother and sister.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Investigator Sapinoso gave the Greenville County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Greenville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Investigator Sapinoso.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Greenville County Sheriff's Office has lost 17 officers; 14 of them killed feloniously.
Antonio is one of 272 officers killed feloniously in SC, 61.5% of the 442 remembered there.
Antonio is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Antonio is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2003, 2 officers at Greenville County Sheriff's Office were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 2003, 4 officers in SC were killed feloniously, the 8th heaviest of 119 years on record. The heaviest was 1925, with 7.
In 2003, 64 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2003, 69 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 109th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Antonio was 34. Of the 14 killed feloniously at Greenville County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 30.8 and 36.8; the middle age was 34. Antonio had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 4.5 years.
Antonio was 34. Of the 243 killed feloniously in SC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 47; the middle age was 38. Antonio had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 5.3 years.
Antonio was 34. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Antonio had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Antonio was 34. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Antonio had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 14.3% of these deaths at Greenville County Sheriff's Office; June holds the most, 21.4%. Wednesdays: 14.3%.
April holds 8.5% of these deaths in SC; July holds the most, 10.7%. Wednesdays: 8.8%.
April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
April holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 82.4% of all 17 deaths at Greenville County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 42.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 61.5% of all 442 deaths in SC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 21% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Greenville County Sheriff's Office has 17 officers remembered here, Antonio among them.
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Eli Pittman
Apr 30, 1906
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Edgar Cleveland Waldrop
Jun 26, 1910
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John Flemon Lindsey
Oct 5, 1914
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James Arthur Stewart
Aug 26, 1917
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Hendrix Rector
Jul 4, 1919
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George Matthew Myers
Sep 22, 1926
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Samuel D. Willis
Jun 11, 1927
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Perry Paris
Oct 24, 1930
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Robert Earle Thompson Oct 7, 1940
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John P. Martin
Sep 12, 1965
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Claude V. Southerlin, Jr.
Oct 31, 1966
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Rufus Frank Looper, III
Feb 1, 1975
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William Mahon Banks
Jun 9, 1989
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Marcus Lyman Whitfield
Aug 13, 1999
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Antonio Joselito Sapinoso
Apr 2, 2003
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Andrew John Mazur
Aug 17, 2003
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William Conley Jumper, Jr.
Oct 20, 2020
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 10-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Greenville County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
