Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Burns was shot and killed at a bus shelter at the intersection of Fourth Avenue North and Deaderick Street in Nashville. Officer Burns had just left work early because he was feeling ill and was waiting for a bus to arrive when a paroled inmate approached him.
The parolee had been disciplined by Officer Burns several months earlier and had been sent to the maximum security prison for 30 days as punishment. When the parolee asked Officer Burns if he remembered him he responded that he did not remember him. The suspect then produced a handgun and shot Officer Burns once in the chest, killing him.
The 53-year-old suspect, who was identified by several witnesses at the bus shelter, was arrested the following day and charged with murder. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to 60 years. He was released in 2001 and died in 2003.
Officer Burns had served with the Tennessee Department of Correction for 3 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TN-21A648DE- 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.
Correctional Officer Burns gave the Tennessee Department of Correction 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Nashville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Burns.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Correctional Officer Robert Burns 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 TN, 498 of 769 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64.8% of this state's fallen. That is 10.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Tennessee Department of Correction, 11 of 14 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 78.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Burns's cause is highlighted.
How Robert Burns Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 60 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Burns is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Burns was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
13 officers from Tennessee Department of Correction are honored on badge.nw.
