David E. Barnett

Little Rock Police Department — Little Rock, AR

Felonious

End of Watch February 13, 1991

Age 33

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 136 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 22

Incident

Patrolman David Barnett was shot and killed while trying to stop an armed robbery at a Waffle House at 7800 Scott Hamilton Road in Little Rock while off duty. Around 2:30 a.m., a man walked into the Waffle House and sat at the counter. A few moments later, a subject wearing a ski mask and carrying a rifle walked in. When Patrolman Barnett attempted to disarm the subject, a struggle ensued. The man at the counter joined the struggle and began hitting Patrolman Barnett repeatedly. One of the men grabbed Patrolman Barnett's service gun and fired four shots before fleeing. The 19-year-old killer was apprehended, convicted of capital murder, and sentenced to life without parole on October 23, 1991. The other subject, 17, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life. Patrolman Barnett had served with the Little Rock Police Department for three years.

Survivors

Survivors include his mother and two brothers.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-AR-1CE2D10E
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.
Patrolman Barnett gave the Little Rock Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Little Rock community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Barnett.

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

Agency

Department Little Rock Police Department

Location Little Rock, AR

Platform Identity lrpd.pulaski.ar.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 13, 1991

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 33

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender off duty

Patrolman David E. Barnett 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 AR, 249 of 372 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.9% of this state's fallen. That is 12.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Little Rock Police Department, 19 of 23 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 82.6% of this agency's fallen.

Little Rock Police Department

of 23 officers

82.6% Felonious

AR — Statewide

249

of 372 officers

66.9% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious