Patrol Agent John A. Rector
United States Department of Justice - Border Patrol
U.S. Government
End of Watch: Tuesday, October 16, 1956

Biographical Info
Age: 58
Tour of Duty: 28 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Accidental)
Date of Incident: Tuesday, October 16, 1956
Incident Location: California
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Not available

Agent Rector was accidentally shot and killed by a fellow agent who was discussing gun limitations with a third agent at the Chula Vista Sector Headquarters in California. The two agents had unloaded the .357 caliber handgun while examining it, reloaded it, and placed it in a drawer as they began to discuss a different weapon. The discussion returned to the .357 and one of the agents removed it from the drawer, not realizing it had been reloaded. When he pulled the trigger the gun discharged and round passed through the wall and struck Agent Rector in the head as he sat at his desk. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to the wound several hours later.

Agent Rector had been with the agency for 28 years.