Richmond Police Department, Virginia
End of Watch: Wednesday, October 14, 1998
Age: 46
Tour of Duty: 20 years
Badge Number: 365
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 14, 1998
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Police Officer Thomas McMahon was shot and killed after a vehicle was chased into Richmond from an adjoining jurisdiction.
An officer from the Henrico County Police Department attempted to stop the suspect on I-95 after reports that he was driving erratically. The suspect then led the officer on a slow-speed chase through a shopping center and fired several shots at the officer.
Richmond Police joined the chase and were able to stop the truck near 26th and S streets. The suspect then opened fire from inside his truck, striking Officer McMahon in the upper body, abdomen, and arm. Although he was wearing a Kevlar vest, the fatal shot struck him in the femoral artery, causing him to bleed to death. Officer McMahon had not yet exited his vehicle before being shot.
The suspect then held other officers at bay for several hours before opening fire on them again. Officers returned fire, fatally wounding the suspect.
Officer McMahon was a United States Army veteran and had served with the Richmond Police Department for 20 years. He was survived by his fiancee, his mother, and his father.