Officer George Leighton Pomraning, 26, was shot and killed while on duty after an arrest attempt at a 7-11 on Columbia Pike. On a late summer evening as their shift was ending, Pomraning and his partner encountered a 19-year-old and two companions who had shoplifted items worth 97 cents. After the young man returned to the store to pay, a struggle occurred when officers attempted to arrest him; the suspect’s apparent drug influence made searching difficult.

Pomraning rode in the back of the patrol car with the suspect for transport. Near 8th Street and South George Mason Drive the suspect produced a hidden .38 caliber handgun and fired, wounding Pomraning three times and wounding his partner, Officer Gerald Dawson, in the leg. Pomraning was mortally wounded and died at Arlington Hospital on September 2, 1973; he had served four years with the Arlington County Police Department and was survived by his wife and son.

An arrest was made and the shooter was convicted of first-degree murder and given a life sentence. If anyone knew Officer Pomraning or has information about that night, please share what can help document his story.