Robert Layden Hornsby
Agency patch
Police Officer

Robert Layden Hornsby

Killeen Police Department — Killeen, TX
Felonious
End of Watch July 14, 2013
Age 32
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 162 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Bobby Hornsby was shot and killed while participating in a SWAT deployment at an apartment complex in the 1600 block of Grandon Drive shortly after midnight.

Earlier in the evening a resident in the complex displayed a weapon as he confronted several people who were using the pool. When initial units arrived the subject brandished an AK-47 rifle and barricaded himself in his apartment. The agency's Tactical Response Unit was deployed and arrived at the scene approximately one hour after the initial call.

As members of the tactical unit attempted to make contact with the man, the subject fired one shot and then opened the apartment door with his hands up. When the subject refused to exit the apartment the tactical team moved in to subdue him. The man backed further into the apartment, grabbed the rifle, and opened fire. Officer Hornsby and another officer were wounded before the subject was killed by return fire.

Both officers were transported to Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, where Officer Hornsby succumbed to his wounds shortly before 2:00 am.

Officer Hornsby had served with the Killeen Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, daughter, son, mother, and three brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-FE386B5D
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Hornsby gave the Killeen Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Killeen community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Hornsby.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location Killeen, TX
Platform Identity kpd.bell.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 14, 2013
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 32
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Rifle; AK-47
Offender Shot and killed

Police Officer Robert Layden Hornsby is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Killeen Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Killeen Police Department
3
of 3 officers
100% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,463
of 2,421 officers
60.4% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Layden Hornsby's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Robert Layden Hornsby Compares

Age at End of Watch
32
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
4
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Layden Hornsby is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Layden Hornsby was killed by rifle; ak-47.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Killeen Police Department are honored on badge.nw.