Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Eva was shot and killed after stopping an escapee. He had conducted a traffic stop on a suspected stolen vehicle and recognized the driver as the escaped prisoner. After placing the suspect under arrest, the prisoner began to resist and during the scuffle managed to get Deputy Eva's weapon and fatally shot him. A conservation officer with Deputy Eva was shot and seriously wounded. He managed to crawl back to the patrol car and call for help. The dispatcher who took the call was Deputy Eva's wife. The 18-year-old suspect fled the scene, but was later apprehended. The suspect was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 30 years. He received an additional 20 years for attempted murder of the conservation officer and several other charges.
Survivors
Deputy Eva had been with the agency for three years and was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-DC50FF28- 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 Eva gave the Lee County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Myers community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Eva.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Richard Keith Eva 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 FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Lee County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 10 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Richard Keith Eva's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Keith Eva Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 50 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Keith Eva is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Keith Eva was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
9 officers from Lee County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
