Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant David Lilly was shot and killed during a traffic stop at the intersection of Route 19/21 bypass and New Raleigh Road (present-day South Fayette Street) shortly before midnight. While Sergeant Lilly spoke with the driver of the vehicle, he was shot twice by the man, who was armed with a .32 caliber pistol. The man, who had been suspected of being involved in the robbery of a coin store earlier in the day, fled the scene in the officer's patrol car. The suspect was apprehended in Wayne, New Jersey, twelve days later. He was returned to West Virginia, found guilty of first-degree murder, and sentenced to life in prison. On November 7, 1979, the suspect and several other prisoners escaped from the West Virginia State Penitentiary in Moundsville. During the escape attempt, the suspect shot and killed Trooper Philip Kesner, of the West Virginia State Police, using a gun stolen from a prison guard during the escape. The suspect was on the run for two years until being arrested in New York City following a shootout with federal agents. While evading authorities, the suspect murdered an elderly man in Arizona. He was returned to West Virginia to complete several life sentences. In Arizona, he received the death penalty. As of June 15, 2023, the man, now 80, was being held at the Mount Olive Correctional Complex. Sergeant Lilly was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Beckley Police Department for 6.5 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WV-29D2C5BE- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 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.
Sergeant Lilly gave the Beckley Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Beckley community, and 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
David Lee Lilly served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Sergeant David Lee Lilly is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,587 officers honored here.
In WV, 169 of 232 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 72.8% of this state's fallen. That is 18.9 percentage points above the national rate of 53.9%.
At Beckley Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David Lee Lilly's cause is highlighted.
How David Lee Lilly Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David Lee Lilly is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. David Lee Lilly was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Military Service
David Lee Lilly served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit David Lee Lilly’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Beckley Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
