United States Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service - Bureau of Prohibition, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Wednesday, September 25, 1929
Age: 61
Tour of Duty: 43 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 25, 1929
Weapon Used: Rifle
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Federal Prohibition Agent Charles Stevens was shot and killed from ambush while returning to San Antonio after raiding a still with other agents in Atascosa County.
Agent Stevens and a second agent had two prisoners and were being followed by third agent with another man in vehicle. They stopped when they saw a woman sitting on the running board of a car waiving a flashlight toward the embankment and culvert on the side of the road. She claimed her husband had run off the road, but the agents were suspicious and arrested the female. As the agents got out of their vehicle to investigate, shots rang out. Agent Stevens continued firing after he was struck in the chest by a rifle bullet. After the assailant's ammunition was exhausted, they fled the scene, with several seeking medial attention for gunshot wounds. Seven people were charged with the murder, one of whom died from his wounds shortly thereafter.
Another suspect remained at large until October 20, 1949. The following year he was sentenced to 38 years in prison.
Agent Stevens began his long and respected law enforcement career at the age of 18, with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. At the age of 23, Stevens was elected and served three terms as a Bexar County Constable. He was appointed as a deputy sheriff in 1898. In 1908, he ran for Sheriff, but was defeated. He was later appointed as Chief Deputy. In 1910, he was appointed as a Texas Ranger Captain of Company B. In 1912, he was appointed as a Captain in the San Antonio Police Department. In 1921, he served as Supervisor for the U.S. Customs Service until his appointment as a U.S. Prohibition Agent.
Agent Stevens' father, Bexar County Sheriff E.A. Stevens, was shot in the line of duty in 1881, and later succumbed to his wounds in 1885. Stevens was survived by his wife, brother, and three sisters. He was buried in the San Jose Cemetery in San Antonio.