Austin Police Department, Texas
End of Watch Monday, August 1, 1966
Add to My HeroesBilly Paul Speed
Police Officer Billy Speed was shot and killed by a sniper on the clock tower at the University of Texas.
He was eating lunch in a nearby cafe when he heard the rifle fire. When he went to investigate he was shot by the sniper. The sniper killed a total of 14 people and injured 31 others before several officers and civilians made it to the top of the tower and fatally shot him.
Officer Speed was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War and had served with the Austin Police Department for 13 months. He was survived by his wife and child.
Bio
- Age 23
- Tour 1 year, 1 month
- Badge 37
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Rifle
- Offender Shot and killed
Most Recent Reflection
View all 27 ReflectionsI remember Billy well. We were classmates at Highlands High School and were teammates on the 1960 Highlands Owls football team. He was a great guy and teammate. He signed my yearbook. I was in Vietnam when I read about Billy's death on the front page of the Stars and Stripes. May he rest in peace.
Bill Cocke
Friend
February 26, 2024
Recent LODD Deaths

Officer Jason Roscow
North Las Vegas Police Department, NV
EOW: February 4, 2025

Chief Deputy Burl Wesley Everman
Bath County Sheriff's Office, KY
EOW: November 9, 2024

Police Officer Philip J. Schifini
Nassau County Police Department, NY
EOW: November 27, 2024

Major Jeffrey A. Burke
New Jersey State Police, NJ
EOW: December 31, 2024

Corporal Dennis Francis Kelly
Delaware State Police, DE
EOW: December 21, 2024

Officer Baldino Morales-Sánchez
Mayagüez Municipal Police Department, PR
EOW: January 25, 2025

Border Patrol Agent David Christopher Maland
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, US
EOW: January 20, 2025

Sergeant Mark Butler
Navasota Police Department, TX
EOW: January 15, 2025

Deputy Sheriff Jesus Vargas
Brazoria County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: January 15, 2025