Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Sean Riley was shot and killed after responding to assist a motorist near mile marker 115 on I-64 at about 5:00 am.
Another officer responding to back him up found him suffering from fatal gunshot wounds, and his patrol car was missing. The subject later abandoned the patrol car on I-64 before fleeing to St. Peters, Missouri, where he carjacked and shot a citizen. The man then abandoned the vehicle before stealing another vehicle and returning to Illinois. He was taken into custody in the early afternoon.
The suspect was convicted of Deputy Riley's murder and sentenced to life without parole in April 2022.
Deputy Riley had served with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office for three years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-3F718A37- 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 Riley gave the Wayne County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fairfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Riley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Sean Ian Riley 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 IL, 842 of 1,318 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 63.9% of this state's fallen. That is 9.7 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Sean Ian Riley's cause is highlighted.
How Sean Ian Riley Compares
Offender Outcome
Life without parole
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Sean Ian Riley is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Sean Ian Riley was killed by gun; unknown type.