Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective William O'Brien was shot and killed while making a routine check on a pawnshop at 1401 Franklin Avenue. As he entered the shop he interrupted a robbery which was taking place and was shot in the chest. The two suspects then shot and wounded the owners before fleeing with stolen property. Both suspects, age 23, were later apprehended, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life in prison. Both were later convicted of three armed robberies and each were sentenced to three life terms to run concurrently with their first life sentence. Detective O'Brien was assigned to the Tracing Bureau and had been with the agency for 31 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MO-4B3B50E0- 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
31 years. You could have gone home.
Detective O'Brien gave the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 31 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the St. Louis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective O'Brien.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective William J. O'Brien 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 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 9.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
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. William J. O'Brien's cause is highlighted.
How William J. O'Brien Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William J. O'Brien is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William J. O'Brien was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
175 officers from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
