Robert Lee Paris Jr.
Deputy Sheriff

Robert Lee Paris Jr.

Felonious
End of Watch April 12, 2012
Age 53
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
The Vigil Panel 161 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Robert Paris was shot and killed while he and another deputy were serving an eviction notice at the Whispering Woods apartment complex on Chrysler Drive in Modesto.

The deputies were attempting entry into the residence around 11:00 a.m. when the suspect opened fire with a rifle, fatally wounding Deputy Paris and a civilian locksmith who had accompanied them. The suspect then barricaded himself inside the residence for several hours before committing suicide after the apartment complex caught fire.

It was later determined that the suspect was armed with 22 firearms, a gas mask, and other tactical equipment. While barricaded in the building, he cut through walls into adjoining apartments in order to have multiple vantage points.

Deputy Paris had served with the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department for 16 years.

Survivors

He is survived by two adult children, parents, brother, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-554A09AA
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.
Deputy Sheriff Paris gave the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Modesto community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Paris.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Modesto, Stanislaus County, CA
Platform Identity scso.stanislaus.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 12, 2012
Tour of Duty 16 yrs
Age 53
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Rifle

Deputy Sheriff Robert Lee Paris Jr. 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department
4
of 6 officers
66.7% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

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

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Robert Lee Paris Jr. Compares

Age at Death
53
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
16
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Lee Paris Jr. is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Lee Paris Jr. was killed by rifle.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location