Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Robert Bennett, Officer Carlos Owen, and Officer Harley Chisholm were shot and killed at approximately 1:30 pm while serving a warrant at a home near 18th Street and Avenue P, in the Ensley area of the city.
The three victim officers, along with a fourth officer, went to the one-story row house that contained several apartments with a warrant for the arrest of a man on a misdemeanor assault charge. Officer Owen and Officer Chisholm entered the apartment through the back door intending to arrest the man.
The subject broke away from them and ran toward the front of the house where Officer Bennett was about to come through the front door. One of the two men inside then opened fire with an automatic SKS rifle, killing all three officers and wounding the fourth officer.
The shooter and several other suspects were taken into custody near the scene by a tactical team a short time later.
Two of the arrested men, 27 and 24, were convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. The older of the two was executed on March 5th, 2020.
Officer Bennett had served with the Birmingham Police Department for three years and was assigned to the West Precinct.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and four-year-old daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-AL-7FE1BA25- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Bennett gave the Birmingham Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Birmingham community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Bennett.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer C. Robert Bennett is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In AL, 405 of 643 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63% of this state's fallen. That is 63 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Birmingham Police Department, 34 of 49 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. C. Robert Bennett's cause is highlighted.
How C. Robert Bennett Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. C. Robert Bennett is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. C. Robert Bennett was killed by rifle; sks.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
48 officers from Birmingham Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
