Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Cornelius O'Keefe was shot and killed while searching for an assault suspect at 2255 hours. During his search, he encountered a man inside a candy store on Olive Street. The man shot Officer O'Keefe in the chest. Due to thunderstorms, no other officers heard the shot and they did not find Officer O'Keefe for 15 minutes. During the ensuing investigation, the original assault suspect was arrested and determined to be the prime suspect in Officer O'Keefe's murder. Officer O'Keefe had been employed with the St. Louis Police Department for 12 years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-385A0B84- 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.
Police Officer O'Keefe gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer O'Keefe.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Cornelius O'Keefe 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 MO, 516 of 813 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.5% of this state's fallen. That is 63.5 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, 112 of 176 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Cornelius O'Keefe's cause is highlighted.
How Cornelius O'Keefe Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Cornelius O'Keefe is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Cornelius O'Keefe was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
175 officers from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
