Sean Riley will be remembered as a family man who he cared about deeply. “But we take comfort in knowing that he lived his life to the fullest, he loved his family and friends deeply and he died doing what he loved” (statement by Riley’s family).

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On Wednesday, December 29, 2021, Deputy Sheriff Sean Riley was shot and killed after responding to assist a motorist near mile marker 115 on I-64 at about 5:00 am.

Another officer responding to back him up found him suffering from fatal gunshot wounds, and his patrol car was missing. The subject later abandoned the patrol car on I-64 before fleeing to St. Peters, Missouri, where he carjacked and shot a citizen. The man then abandoned the vehicle before stealing another vehicle and returning to Illinois. He was taken into custody in the early afternoon.

The suspect was convicted of Deputy Riley’s murder and sentenced to life without parole in April 2022.

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He is survived by his wife and children.

Our hearts are with the Riley family and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.

To donate in memory of Deputy Sheriff Riley, please visit our Fallen Heroes Donation page.