Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas
End of Watch Saturday, January 27, 1934
Add to My HeroesMajor Joe Crowson
Prison Guard Major Crowson succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained 11 days earlier during an escape attempt at the Huntsville Unit.
He was shot by members of the Bonnie and Clyde Gang as several members of the gang were making a prison escape. Bonnie and Clyde had smuggled weapons inside and were waiting outside with machine guns during the escape.
As Guard Crowson rode up on a horse he was shot and killed. The two prison escapees were executed for the murder approximately one year later.
Guard Crowson is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Lovelady, Houston County, Texas.
The Bonnie and Clyde Gang was responsible for the murder of law enforcement officers in four states - Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas - between 1932 and 1934. Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow started their criminal career by robbing banks and quickly became notorious murderers wanted for the murders of nine law enforcement officers.
The two criminals were finally shot and killed in Louisiana when they were ambushed by a task force of Texas and Louisiana officers.
Bio
- Age 33
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Incident Date Tuesday, January 16, 1934
- Weapon Rifle; Machine gun
- Offender Both shot and killed
Most Recent Reflection
View all 12 ReflectionsIt is indeed sad that the names of Bonnie and Clyde are so well known, but not those of their law enforcement and other victims. Also writing to clarify that Major was Crowson's given name, and not his rank as claimed here. He was a regular prison guard, and the Texas Department of Justice doesn't have the rank of Major.
LEO Supporter
November 20, 2015
Recent LODD Deaths

Agent Alfred Zanyet-Pérez
Puerto Rico Police Department, PR
EOW: February 16, 2019

Detective Brian Simonsen
New York City Police Department, NY
EOW: February 12, 2019

Police Officer Matthew Rittner
Milwaukee Police Department, WI
EOW: February 6, 2019

Trooper Lucas Bartley Dowell
Virginia State Police, VA
EOW: February 4, 2019

Detective William Lee Brewer
Clermont County Sheriff's Office, OH
EOW: February 2, 2019

Border Patrol Agent Donna Doss
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, US
EOW: February 2, 2019

Corporal Shane Totty
Baton Rouge Police Department, LA
EOW: February 1, 2019

Deputy Sheriff Joshua Bryan "LJ" Ryer, Jr.
Glascock County Sheriff's Office, GA
EOW: January 29, 2019

Supervisory Deputy US Marshal Norman D. Merkel
United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, US
EOW: January 16, 2019