U.S. Air Force · United States 
Russell Pettie
1954
Russell C. Pettie served the U.S. Air Force.
How He Died
Manner
Homicide
Cause
Gunshot wound
Mechanism
Firearm
What Happened
Detective Russell Pettie was shot and killed while serving an arrest warrant to a suspect who was known to be armed and dangerous. The suspect was sought to appear at a sanity hearing, where his mother intended to commit him. As officers searched the house at 1808 North Taylor Street, shots were fired from an attic window. Detective Pettie was struck in the head and died instantly. The suspect had barricaded himself inside the home with an arsenal of weapons and held officers at bay for three hours before being killed. Detective Pettie was a U.S. Army Air Force veteran and had served with the Arlington County Police Department for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
Service Record
U.S. Air Force
Also Served
Arlington County Police Department
Detective
Burial Information
Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Section
34
Grave
807
In Our Keeping
Permanent identifier
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Record added
August 2, 2026
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Last updated
August 2, 2026
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