The Officer Down Memorial Page Remembers . . .
 
Photograph: Patrolman Gayle Lamar Holmes

Patch image: Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, Texas






Patrolman Gayle Lamar Holmes
Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol
Texas

End of Watch: Friday, May 19, 1972

Biographical Info
Age: 26
Tour of Duty: 1 week
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Friday, May 19, 1972
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life imprisonment

Patrolman Holmes and Sheriff Paul Vinson, of the King County Sheriff's Department, Texas, were shot and killed while responding to a disturbance call outside a rural store between Paducah and Guthrie.

While they were placing one man in the patrol car, another man stepped onto the porch of the store behind them and began firing. A third highway patrolman returned fire, but suffered no injury.

The suspect was taken into custody at a ranch about a mile away. He was later convicted of Sheriff Vinson's murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Patrolman Holmes had been with the agency for only 12 days and was stationed at Spur. He was survived by his wife and child.

Related Line of Duty Deaths
Patch image: Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, TexasSheriff Paul Roy Vinson
King County Sheriff's Department, TX
EOW: Friday, May 19, 1972
Cause of Death: Gunfire

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