Trooper Richard V. Woods
South Carolina Highway Patrol
South Carolina
End of Watch: Friday, August 15, 1969

Biographical Info
Age: 34
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Friday, August 15, 1969
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Died in prison

Trooper Richard Woods was shot and killed in front of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort while attempting to arrest three robbery suspects. The shooting occurred as he attempted to stop a vehicle for speeding. Unbeknownst to Trooper Woods, the occupants had just committed an armed robbery.

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.

Trooper Woods was survived by his wife and two children.