District of Columbia Department of Corrections, District of Columbia
End of Watch: Friday, November 30, 1973
Age: 26
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Stabbed
Date of Incident: November 30, 1973
Weapon Used: Edged weapon; Shank
Suspect Info: Convicted of murder
Correctional Officer Michael Kirby was stabbed to death while investigating the activity of three inmates in a recreation yard at Lorton Correctional Facility in Fairfax County, Virginia. As he was reporting to his gate assignment, he noticed the three inmates tampering with a manhole cover.
As he approached the three men, they ran into a nearby dorm. When Officer Kirby followed them into the dorm, he was attacked and stabbed to death. His body was then rolled into a sheet and stuffed under a bed.
Shortly after a head count at 3:30 p.m., the inmates took his body and shoved it down the manhole. When other officers realized that he was missing, a search of the prison was initiated. His body was located in the manhole at approximately 5:30 p.m.
All three inmates were charged with and convicted of Officer Kirby's murder.
Officer Kirby was a U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran and had served with the District of Columbia Department of Corrections for one year.