Roll of Honor
Incident
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.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, parents, brother, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-A70F2A56- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Lee gave the Houston Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Robert Wayne Lee served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Robert Wayne Lee 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 Houston Police Department, 84 of 117 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Wayne Lee's cause is highlighted.
How Robert Wayne Lee Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Wayne Lee is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Wayne Lee was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
116 officers from Houston Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
