Roll of Honor
Incident
Chief of Police Robert Lilly was succumbed to a gunshot wound received the previous day when he went to backup another officer who had been threatened with a handgun. The officer had found a man having sex near a river bank. When the officer attempted to arrest the man the suspect pulled out a handgun. The officer retreated and went for assistance. When Chief Lilly arrived he also attempted to arrest the man, who pulled out the handgun again. Shots were exchanged and both men were wounded. Chief Lilly was transported to a hospital in a neigbhoring town on a special train and the suspect was taken to a local hospital. An angry mob of citizens assaulted the man and hanged him in the town square the following day.
Survivors
Chief Lilly was survived by his wife, two children, father, and two siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WV-9A058A49- 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.
Chief of Police Lilly served with the Elkins Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Elkins community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Lilly.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Chief of Police Robert Allen Lilly 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 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 18.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Elkins Police Department, 2 of 2 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. Robert Allen Lilly's cause is highlighted.
How Robert Allen Lilly Compares
Offender Outcome
Lynched by citizens
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Allen Lilly is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Allen Lilly was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Elkins Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
