On October 17, 1963, Trooper Robert A. Paris, a 28-year-old white male from New Castle County, Delaware, was killed in the line of duty while serving with the Delaware State Police. Paris had joined the force in 1959, fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a state trooper. At the time of his death, he was assigned to Troop 2 at State Road and was participating in a special detail aimed at curbing a series of motel burglaries involving stolen televisions.
At approximately 3:40 a.m.,
Trooper Paris encountered two suspicious individuals in the parking lot of a motel off U.S. Route 13 near Hares Corner. As he approached the suspects, they opened fire. Paris returned fire, but was fatally wounded by two blasts from a shotgun. The assailants fled the scene in a vehicle driven by a third accomplice. The incident marked a tragic milestone, as Paris became the first Delaware State Trooper to be shot to death by a suspect.
The killing of the 28-year-old white male officer sent shockwaves through the state, prompting widespread mourning and public outrage. Thousands attended his funeral at St. Elizabeth's Church in Wilmington, where he was remembered as a devoted officer who died while upholding law and order. Governor Elbert N. Carvel described the loss as “a misfortune of the greatest magnitude.”
Law enforcement swiftly apprehended the suspects, who had traveled from New York. The individual responsible for firing the fatal shots was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. His two accomplices received 15-year prison terms. Despite strong opposition, the shooter was paroled in 1978 and transferred to serve four additional years in Alabama, remaining under the supervision of the Delaware Parole Board for life. He later died of cancer in Florida in 1992.
Trooper Paris is memorialized at the Delaware State Police Academy and the State Police Museum in Dover. His legacy continues to be honored by fellow officers, including ceremonies held at the site of his death to commemorate his sacrifice and dedication to public service.
