Scranton Police Department, Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Sunday, April 2, 1933
Age: 41
Tour of Duty: 22 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 1, 1933
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Executed in 1934
Lieutenant Lewis Roberts succumbed to a gunshot wound the previous day when he interrupted a robbery at a local grocery store at Prescott Avenue and Olive Street. When one of the suspects ordered him to hand over his money he grabbed the suspect's wrist and began to disarm him, but a second suspect him struck him over the head with a revolver.
The first suspect then shot him several times before they both fled. Despite being mortally wounded, Lieutenant Roberts was able to give a description of the suspects to responding officers.
Both men were eventually apprehended, convicted of his murder, and subsequently executed in the electric chair on March 5, 1934. Two other suspects were charged in connection with his murder.
Lieutenant Roberts was a veteran of the Pennsylvania National Guard and had served with the Scranton Police Department for 22 years.