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
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.
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

Location Modesto, 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
Offender Committed suicide

Deputy Sheriff Robert Lee Paris, Jr. 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 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 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Stanislaus County Sheriff's Dept., 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 Dept.
4
of 6 officers
66.7% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% 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 Lee Paris, Jr.'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 Lee Paris, Jr. Compares

Age at End of Watch
53
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
16
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Committed suicide

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
1,517
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 Lee Paris, Jr. was killed by rifle.

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

Incident Location