Knox County Sheriff's Office, Texas
End of Watch: Sunday, December 24, 1916
Age: 34
Tour of Duty: 2 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 24, 1916
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Deputy Sheriff Joel Reed was shot and killed while confronting a subject who had murdered the former county sheriff during a personal dispute.
The former sheriff was engaged in a divorce proceeding and his killer was his brother-in-law. The former sheriff was walking down the street, in Knox City, when a car pulled over. The subject stepped from the car with a Winchester rifle in hand and shot him in the back.
After he fell, the man drew a handgun, stood over him, and and continued to fire. After firing several shots, Deputy Sheriff Joel Reed and the Knox City marshal ran to the scene and tried to apprehend the man. The man opened fire on the officers, striking Deputy Reed three times and killing him. The man escaped from the scene but was later captured.
The subject who murdered Deputy Reed was killed the following year in a Knox County courtroom by the former sheriff's brother. The judge in the case and a trial witness were also wounded.
Deputy Sheriff Reed is buried at Long Branch Cemetery in Carbon, Texas.