United States Department of Labor - Immigration Service - United States Border Patrol, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Wednesday, January 17, 1940
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 17, 1940
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Patrol Inspector William Sills was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a smuggler along the bank of the Rio Grande River south of La Grulla, approximately 25 miles west of McAllen, Texas.
He and two other inspectors had encountered three smugglers. Two of the aliens were arrested and Inspector Sills was shot while attempting to stop the third from escaping. Despite being mortally wounded, he was able to return fire and kill the suspect.
Inspector Sills had served with the United States Border Patrol for three years.