Patrick Michael Righi-Barnard
Incident
Patrol Officer Patrick Righi-Barnard was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver while assisting a motorist who had just been involved in an accident on I-55 near Lexington.
He was off duty, in his personal vehicle, while en route to visit relatives for Thanksgiving in Tremont, Illinois. While assisting the motorist, another vehicle entered the median and struck Officer Righi-Barnard and the motorist, killing the officer and severely injuring the motorist.
The suspects fled the scene but were arrested a short time later following a large manhunt. The driver was charged with obstructing justice and leaving the scene of a fatal accident. The passenger was charged with obstructing justice for removing the license plates from their vehicle.
Officer Righi-Barnard was a United States Army Reserve Military Police veteran who had served with the Burbank Police Department for 10 months and previously served with the Markham Police Department for six years. His biological father was a police officer who, at age 33, was killed in an accidental shooting while off duty.
Survivors
He was survived by his fiancée, mother, stepfather, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IL-8607923C- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrol Officer Righi-Barnard gave the Burbank Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Burbank community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Patrick Michael Righi-Barnard served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Patrol Officer Patrick Michael Righi-Barnard 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. Patrick Michael Righi-Barnard's cause is highlighted.
How Patrick Michael Righi-Barnard Compares
Offender Outcome
Apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Patrick Michael Righi-Barnard is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Patrick Michael Righi-Barnard was killed by automobile.