Newport News Police Department, Virginia
End of Watch: Friday, March 20, 1981
Age: 32
Tour of Duty: 10 years, 8 months
Badge Number: 104
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 20, 1981
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Patrolman Roberts was shot and killed while moonlighting as a security guard at a Department Store near the intersection of 29th Street and Washington Avenue. While he attempted to arrest a shoplifter he was shot and killed. The suspect was shot and killed by other officers in the same store almost one year later during a shootout that left an officer seriously wounded.
Patrolman Roberts was a U.S Army veteran of the Vietnam War and served with the Newport News Police Department for less than 11 years