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Retired agent John Kuchta served in the FBI for 27 years.
In this episode, John Kuchta reviews the 1994 ambush at the DC Metro Police Headquarters where a gunman killed SAs Martha Dixon and Michael Miller, and MPD Sgt. Henry “Hank” Daly and John survived multiple gunshot wounds to the heart, liver, kidney, lung, arm and leg.
For his actions on November 22, 1994, he was awarded the FBI Star in recognition of serious injury and split second decision made under fire.
He was awarded the FBI Medal of Valor and U.S. Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism in recognition of exceptional acts of heroism involving the voluntary risk of personal safety and life performed in the line of duty in the face of a criminal encounter.
During his recovery, he served as a federal prosecutor. He later transferred to the Tampa Division, with assignments to Regional Command East in Afghanistan and as the Criminal Assistant Legal Attaché (ALAT) in London, England, for four years.
His career encompassed investigating violent crimes, drugs, gangs, crimes against children, white collar crime, political corruption, and national security matters.
He was awarded two U.S. Attorney Office Law Enforcement Officer of the Year recognitions, the FBI Combat Theatre Ribbon; the Anti-Defamation League Shield Award, a Florida State Attorney’s Office Law Officer of the Year Award; and a U.S. Attorney General’s Award for National Security Investigations
He retired from the FBI as the Senior Supervisory Resident Special Agent for Southwest Florida.
John is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University School of Law – Evening Division. He is a member of the Florida Bar and retired member of the Pennsylvania Bar. Currently. he is the Chief Security Officer of an aerospace company residing on Florida’s space coast with his wife of 31 years, the Honorable United States Magistrate Judge Helena M. Barch Kuchta.
Special Agent (Retired)
John Kuchta
4/21/1991 – 4/21/2018
“I’m up on my feet. I’m firing at him. He’s firing at me. We’re like feet apart. I’m getting hit in the arm, chest, and wrist. Initially, the bullets were burning, but they didn’t hurt… Then a bullet hits my femur, my upper leg. That’s when I felt excruciating pain.”—Retired Agent John Kuchta
The following are links to news articles and videos about the November 22, 1994 ambush at the DC Metro Police Headquarters:
Washington Post – 11/24/1994: FOUR SLAIN AT D.C. POLICE HEADQUARTERS
Los Angeles Times – 11/23/1994: 2 FBI Agents, Detective Killed in D.C. Shooting
Washington Post – 11/22/1995: THE UNFINISHED JOB OF A SURVIVOR
The FBI Files (VIDEO): Attack On The Washington D.C. Police HQ
Washington City paper – 11/26/2014: The Murder Capital, Remembered
FBI Website – 11/22/2014: Honoring the Fallen – 20 Years Since Shooting Killed Two Agents, Police Sergeant
FBI Website – 11/22/2019: Law Enforcement Commemorates 25th Anniversary of Deadly Shooting
To learn more about this tragic incident and another case where agents made the ultimate sacrifice, listen to FBI Retired Case File Review episodes:
266: Martha Dixon, Line of Duty Service Martyr
118: Ed Mireles – Fatal FBI Miami Shootout (Part 1)
119: Ed Mireles – Fatal FBI Miami Shootout (Part 2)
[…] 267: John Kuchta – 1994 DC Police Headquarters Shootout […]