United States Department of the Treasury - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, U.S. Government
End of Watch Thursday, December 2, 1982
Add to My HeroesAriel Rios
Special Agent Ariel Rios was shot and killed while conducting an undercover operation in Miami, Florida.
He was shot while struggling with a suspect who was attempting to shoot other ATF agents at a hotel at 4911 W. Flagler Street.
The subject who murdered Special Agent Rios was sentenced to 60 years in prison.
Special Agent Rios was survived by his wife and two children.
The Ariel Rios Federal Building, located in Washington, DC, was named in honor of Agent Rios.
Bio
- Age 28
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Location Florida
- Weapon Handgun; .357 caliber
- Offender Sentenced to 60 years
Most Recent Reflection
View all 40 ReflectionsTo Ariel's family. I hope you're all well and blessed by the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for knowing Ariel for a short time when we were young. I'm also proud to have had such a fine person as Ariel as a friend. His presence in this world is missed. I'm thankful for his service to this country.
Fernando Diaz
March 6, 2025
Recent LODD Deaths
Corporal Timothy J. O'Connor, Jr.
Pennsylvania State Police, PA
EOW: March 8, 2026
Deputy Sheriff Kaleb Mitchell
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, NC
EOW: March 7, 2026
Master Trooper Steven J. Perry
North Carolina Highway Patrol, NC
EOW: March 1, 2026
Conservation Enforcement Officer Senior Shawn Nixon
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources - Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, AL
EOW: November 23, 2025
Corporal David M. Hathcock
Montgomery Police Department, AL
EOW: February 22, 2026
Correctional Officer Dustin Pedigo
Tennessee Department of Correction, TN
EOW: February 25, 2026
Deputy Sheriff Michael Hislope
Christian County Sheriff's Office, MO
EOW: February 24, 2026
Deputy Sheriff Gabriel Ramirez
Christian County Sheriff's Office, MO
EOW: February 23, 2026
Deputy Sheriff Kenneth Lewis
Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: February 23, 2026

