Atascosa County Sheriff's Department, Texas
End of Watch Thursday, July 19, 1973
Add to My HeroesLuis L. Garza
Deputy Luis Garza and his wife, Elida, were shot and killed after being abducted by a suspect. Deputy Garza's wife was riding with him when he pulled over a vehicle for a traffic violation. The driver was actually en route to rob a bank in a nearby town. He abducted Deputy Garza at gunpoint and forced him to drive his patrol car, as his wife followed in the suspect's car, to an abandoned farmhouse. Once at the farmhouse the suspect handcuffed Deputy Garza and his wife together and then shot them both.
The suspect, a 28-year-old ex-convict was apprehended later that day by a state trooper on Interstate 35 in Medina County. Later that same day FBI agents arrested two men, 22 and 33, for conspiring to rob a bank with the suspect in Cotulla. On May 9, 1974, the suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On March 23, 1983, his sentence was commuted to 99 years.
Deputy Garza had served with the agency for only five months.
Bio
- Age 32
- Tour 5 months
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Not available
Most Recent Reflection
View all 7 ReflectionsDeputy Sheriff Garza,
On today,, the 50th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Atascosa County. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.
R.I.P.
USBP
Anonymous
United States Border Patrol
July 19, 2023
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