Houston Police Department, Texas
End of Watch: Sunday, January 31, 1971
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 2 years, 1 month
Badge Number: 2296
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 31, 1971
Weapon Used: Handgun; .45 caliber
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Police Officer Robert Lee was shot and killed when he and his partner interrupted a robbery in progress at a local service station on Gulf Freeway Service Road.
The two officers were transporting a juvenile prisoner at the time. When the suspect inside saw the officers, he ran out and fired a round which struck Officer Lee in the head. Officer Lee's partner, Officer Daryl Shirley, fatally shot the suspect during a foot chase.
Officer Shirley was shot and killed in the line of duty in an unrelated case on April 28th, 1982.
Officer Lee was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Houston Police Department for just over two years. He was survived by his wife, parents, brother, and two sisters.