Patrolman Gayle Lamar Holmes, Texas Department of Public Safety

Patrolman Gayle Lamar Holmes

Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, Texas

End of Watch Friday, May 19, 1972

Gayle Lamar Holmes

Patrolman Holmes and Sheriff Paul Vinson, of the King County Sheriff's Department, Texas, were shot and killed while responding to a disturbance call outside a rural store between Paducah and Guthrie.

While they were placing one man in the patrol car, another man stepped onto the porch of the store behind them and began firing. A third highway patrolman returned fire, but suffered no injury.

The suspect was taken into custody at a ranch about a mile away. He was later convicted of Sheriff Vinson's murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Patrolman Holmes had been with the agency for only 12 days and was stationed at Spur. He was survived by his wife and child.

Bio

Age 26
Tour 1 week
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Sentenced to life imprisonment

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Most Recent Reflection

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Rest in Peace Trooper Gayle Lamar Holmes. Thank You for your brave Service and Sacrifice protecting the citizens of The Great State of Texas.

I Pray for Peace for your Family, Friends and the men and women who now serve The Texas Department of Public Safety. I also Pray that while your murderer did not escape punishment here on this earthly realm that the hounds of hell will soon be now gnawing on his sorry bones. May nothing but thorn bushes and weeds grow on his grave. May his sorry soul be consumed by the lake of fire.

Amen.

Senior Special Agent B.L. Sherwood
Port Terminal Railroad Police Houston, TX

May 19, 2016