Patrolman Michael P. Connors

Michael P. Connors

Patrolman Michael Connors was shot and killed after making a traffic stop of a car travelling the wrong way on a one way street in downtown Richmond.

Unbeknownst to Patrolman Connors, the four occupants of the vehicle were recent parolees and had just committed an armed robbery of a convenience store on the other end of the block.

The suspects thought that Patrolman Connors had witnessed the robbery and opened fire on him, striking him in the face four times. He was found by his lieutenant minutes later. All four suspects were sentenced to life. The shooter had originally been sentenced to death but had the sentence commuted to life in a second trial.

Patrolman Connors had served with the Richmond Police Department for one year and had just received word that he was going to be hired by an agency in his home state of New York. He was survived by his parents.