Sheriff Ernest Daniel Hamilton

Ernest Daniel Hamilton

Sheriff Hamilton was shot and killed while he and a deputy questioned a man near Marfa in a parked car at the request of U.S. Border Patrol agents in a spotter plane. During the questioning the suspect suddenly opened fire, shooting Sheriff Hamilton five times and the deputy once. The suspect fled but was arrested by Border Patrol agents a short distance away. The man, 51, was charged with capital murder.

No one could understand why the man started shooting. The Border Patrol agents just wanted to make sure he was not up to something that was illegal. No motive was determined. On Jun 13, 1973, the suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life.

Sheriff Hamilton was survived by his wife. He had served on the El Paso Police Department for six years, from 1936 through 1942. He had only been serving as sheriff for three months at the time of his murder.