Police Officer Shot In The Face by Mass Murderer: She Survived, But the City's Response Shocked Her

 

West Palm Beach, Fl - A single moment changed everything. For former Richmond, Virginia, police officer Cheryl Ann Nici-O’Connell, that moment arrived in October 1984, when a routine off-duty assignment turned into a life-altering ambush by a fugitive responsible for multiple murders.

Decades later, Nici-O’Connell shares her harrowing story in a special episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast. The episode is available on their website and on platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most major podcast services.

It offers not only a tale of survival but also a profound reflection on resilience, recovery, and an unexpected institutional response from the city she dedicated her career to serving.

An Ordinary Shift Turns into a Nightmare

At just 24 years old, Officer Cheryl Nici-O’Connell was working an off-duty uniformed security detail at the Richmond Marriott Hotel on a Friday night to earn extra income. 

Meanwhile, law enforcement in the Richmond area was hunting a suspect wanted for a triple murder and the attempted murder of a sheriff’s deputy.
Unbeknownst to her, Nici-O’Connell encountered that very fugitive.

“I was ambush attacked and shot in the head from three-to-five feet away by a total stranger,” she recalled.

The attacker fired a .357 Magnum loaded with a .38-caliber round directly at her temple. The bullet entered her face, tore through her mouth, and came to rest just an eighth of an inch from her carotid artery.

Medical professionals gave her little chance of surviving the night.

“It Looked Like Red Paint Was Being Poured Over Everything”

The immediate aftermath remains vividly etched in her memory.

“The next thing I know, I heard a loud explosion,” she said. “I looked toward Broad Street, and everything was blurry. It looked like someone was pouring red paint over a picture of Broad Street.”

Defying the odds, Nici-O’Connell survived. She credits her recovery to more than medical intervention.

“I’m here to tell you if it was not for the support of the police officers I worked with, and also the Richmond community, I would not be here today.”

This outpouring of support from colleagues and citizens sharply contrasted with later experiences.

The Aftermath: Survival Was Just the Beginning

As Nici-O’Connell endured a grueling recovery, she encountered what she describes as shocking treatment from the city government following the shooting. In her podcast interview, she openly discusses challenges that stemmed not from the physical wound but from systemic shortcomings in supporting an injured officer.

Her assailant was eventually captured, tried, and sentenced to multiple life terms. However, the trauma persisted. Since 2002, and nearly every year thereafter, Nici-O’Connell has had to relive the incident through parole hearings.

“I wish I could forget,” she said quietly.

Turning Pain into Purpose

Now retired from law enforcement, Nici-O’Connell continues to serve her community. She remains actively involved with Richmond United for Law Enforcement, an organization founded on January 2, 2015, to foster collaboration between law enforcement and the Metro Richmond and Tri-Cities communities in Virginia.

Through interviews, public speaking, and this special podcast episode, she transforms her experience into a powerful reminder of the human cost borne by those who wear the badge, and the ongoing duty of cities to support them.

“I still work to help others,” she says, a powerful testament to resilience born from unimaginable adversity.

A Story That Continues to Matter

Cheryl Nici-O’Connell’s journey transcends mere survival of a bullet from a mass murderer. It speaks to themes of accountability, compassion, and the enduring challenges faced by officers long after the initial crisis fades.

Listeners can hear her full account in the special episode of the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, now streaming on Facebook, Instagram, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and most major podcast platforms. This episode confronts the stark realities of service, sacrifice, and survival in law enforcement.

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