Nueces County Sheriff's Office, Texas
End of Watch: Sunday, October 16, 1932
Age: 23
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 16, 1932
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Pardoned in 1961
Nueces County Deputy Sheriff Alexander S. Downs, Jr., was working at a dance when he confronted Liborio Garza who was intoxicated and creating a disturbance. Deputy Sheriff Downs told Garza to "cut out the racket." As the deputy sheriff walked away Garza shot him and three bystanders. Deputy Sheriff Downs was taken to a doctor's home and died a few minutes later. Bystander Francisco Villarreal died and Jose Rodriguez and Andres Garcia were wounded. Liborio Garza pled insanity based on intoxication and smoking marijuana.
On January 7, 1933, Liborio Garza, 31, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison. He was pardoned on September 16, 1961.
Deputy Sheriff Downs was 23 years old and was survived by his wife and infant son.