Ceremony Planned on Anniversary of Slain Manassas Officer's Death

It's been 25 years since Manassas Police Sgt. John D. Conner III was gunned down by a suspect while responding to a call.

In honor of his life and service, a wreath-laying ceremony is planned for 10 a.m. at Quantico National Cemetery, Manassas Police told city council on Monday.

The police department's honor guard along with other staff members will attend the ceremony, Manassas Police spokesman Lowell Nevill said on Tuesday.

Conner was just 38 years old when he was shot to death on July 24 1988, making him the only Manassas Police officer to ever die in the line of duty.

In honor of the fallen officer, there is a plaque and a gazebo in the Point of Woods neighborhood at the corner of Stonewall Road and McKenzie Road in Manassas .

Conner was responding to a report of a man sitting on his porch with an AR-15 rifle, firing shots in the air, according to the the Website, Officer Down Memorial Page.

When police arrived, his attacker, Roy Bruce Smith, went inside the house and exited through the back door, where he encountered Conner.

Gunfire was exchanged and Conner was shot three times.  He died a few hours later as a result of a gunshot to the back of the head, leaving behind a wife and four children, according to the memorial page.

Smith was shot once in the foot by Conner. He was taken into custody and eventually found guilty of murder and sentenced to death.

Smith was executed nine years later on July 17, 1997.

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