Incident
Officer Robert Austin was shot and killed while on patrol in Richmond's business district. He encountered two suspects burglarizing a business at the intersection of Fifth Street and Broad Street and was shot when he took action. The two suspects were never apprehended. Officer Austin had served with the Richmond Police Department for nine years.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-VA-9C118A02- 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
128 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Officer Austin gave the Richmond Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Richmond community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Robert D. Austin 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 VA, 395 of 654 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Richmond Police Department, 20 of 40 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. Robert D. Austin's cause is highlighted.
How Robert D. Austin Compares
Offender Outcome
Never apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert D. Austin is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert D. Austin was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
39 officers from Richmond Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.















