Date of Death: May 17, 2013 in the performance of law enforcement duty.
Cause of Death: On May 17, 2013, the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) was conducting a helicopter-based, maritime counterterrorism training exercise off the Atlantic coast near Virginia Beach, Virginia. Special Agent Stephen Shaw and his training partner, Special Agent Christopher Lorek, were participants in this exercise, which included HRT operators fast-roping from their helicopter onto the deck of a ship. During the exercise, the helicopter encountered in-flight difficulties, resulting in corrective action to maintain control of the helicopter. The sharp banking and rapid movement caused both Special Agent Shaw and Special Agent Lorek to be thrown from the rope to the water. Both agents were transported to a nearby hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries. Special Agent Shaw was born in July 1972 in Santa Paula, California. He entered on duty with the FBI as an agent in August 2005.