Karnes County Sheriff's Office, Texas
End of Watch Saturday, February 7, 1970
Add to My HeroesVirgil Fred Wiatrek
Special Deputy Sheriff Virgil Wiatrek was shot and killed as he and another special deputy attempted to arrest a man who had just committed a stabbing in Karnes City.
Both deputies were working an assignment at a dance hall at 410 W Buchel Avenue when the stabbing occurred during a fight. A man in the crowd grabbed the other deputy's gun and opened fire, shooting both deputies as they tried to regain control of the gun.
Deputy Wiatrek was shot three times and killed. The other deputy was wounded.
The man who shot them was arrested and charged with murder.
Deputy Wiatrek was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He was survived by his parents and five brothers.
Deputy Wiatrek held a special deputy commission and worked at dance halls on weekends. He had ambitions to be a Texas game warden.
Bio
- Age 24
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Officer's handgun
- Offender Charged with murder
Most Recent Reflection
View all 8 ReflectionsYou were taken way too . Thank you for your courage and dedication. You will be forever missed. Rest in peace.
Jerry
Fellow citizen
February 7, 2024
Recent LODD Deaths
Sergeant Bill Hooser
Santaquin Police Department, UT
EOW: May 5, 2024
Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas M. Weeks
United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service, US
EOW: April 29, 2024
Investigator William "Alden" Elliott
North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, NC
EOW: April 29, 2024
Investigator Samuel Poloche
North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, NC
EOW: April 29, 2024
Police Officer Joshua Eyer
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, NC
EOW: April 29, 2024
Police Officer Russell Croxton
Dubach Police Department, LA
EOW: April 27, 2024
Sergeant Ian Taylor
Billerica Police Department, MA
EOW: April 26, 2024
Police Officer Kyle Hicks
Corpus Christi Police Department, TX
EOW: April 24, 2024
Investigator John Hampton Coddou, III
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: April 23, 2024