Fallen MCPD Sergeant Honored at Quantico

The Manassas City Police Department honored the life and service of fallen officer Sergeant John David Conner, III, at a special wreath-laying ceremony at Quantico National Cemetery Monday morning.

MCPD Chief Douglas Keen and the Manassas City Police Honor Guard attended the service and placed a wreath on Conner's gravesite during the ceremony, according to Sergeant Eddie Rivera.

July 24 marks the 23rd anniversary of the murder of Conner. Today's ceremony was held to commemorate his life, career and ultimate sacrifice, Rivera said. 

Services began at 10 a.m. Monday.

Sergeant Conner was on duty on a Sunday evening in the summer of 1988 when he  responded to a call for shots being fired into the air on Laurelwood Court in Manasas. 

Sergeant Conner confronted a man armed with a AR-15 rifle when he arrived to the scene and repeatedly ordered the man to drop his weapon, but Roy Bruce Smith opened fire, striking the sergeant numerous times.

Officers apprehended Smith a few minutes later at the scene and  Conner was rushed by ambulance to Prince William Hospital. He was later flown to Fairfax Hospital by helicopter where he succumbed to his injuries.

 Smith was tried and convicted of Capital Murder and was sentenced to death. He was put to death by lethal injection in 1998.

Conner's life was also recently honored and remembered at a recent 1 By Youth event, which took place in  Manassas' Point of Woods community, when a tribute gazebo was refurbished and placed in a neighborhood field in his honor. Conner has been the only Manassas City police officer to die in the line of duty.

At that event, MCPD Officer Trey Lawler explained that he had worked for the department for only three weeks when Sgt. Conner was killed  and that he was able to spend two hours with him the day he passed.

"John was the type of guy that would be here at today's event to help out," Lawler lamented at the 1 By Youth event.

A dedication stone at the Point of Woods gazebo site reads:

"Sergeant John D. Conner III - A community hero who made the ultimate sacrifice. May he be remembered for his strength and courage. End of Watch - July 24th, 1988."