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Henry Nava Jr.
Agency patch
Officer

Henry Nava Jr.

Fort Worth Police Department — Fort Worth, TX
Felonious
United States flag Texas flag
End of Watch December 1, 2005
Age 39
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
The Vigil Panel 343 · Column 1 · Line 1 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Department 58

Incident

Officer Henry Nava died of a gunshot wound he received two days earlier when he attempted to arrest a man on a felony warrant.

He and two other officers went to the suspect's home on Seth Barwise Street, near Brahma Trail, to arrest him on a parole violation warrant. The officers were invited inside the residence by a female who resided there. The female gave the officers verbal consent to enter and search for the suspect after stating to them that the man was not at the location. As the officers entered she alerted the suspect by stating loudly "the police are here and are going to search the house." As Officer Nava opened a bedroom door, the man emerged with a 9mm handgun and shot Officer Nava in the head, just above the left eye.

After shooting Officer Nava, the man fled to a nearby home where he took the female resident hostage for two hours, before releasing her and surrendering to police.

Officer Nava was taken to Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital where he died two days later from his wound.

The subject was convicted of capital murder on November 13th, 2007. He later died in prison.

Officer Nava had served with the Fort Worth Police Department for 14 years. He had previously served with the Austin Park Police Department for three years and the Plano Police Department for one year.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, daughter, and son.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Nava gave the Fort Worth Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Worth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Nava.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Fort Worth Police Department
Type Other
Location Fort Worth, Denton County, TX
Platform Identity fwpd.tarrant.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 1, 2005
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
Age 39
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; 9 mm

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Henry is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 2005, 73 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 96th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Henry was 39. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Henry had served 18 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; 9 mm, in 0.2% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Fort Worth Police Department has 59 officers remembered here, Henry among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Henry Nava Jr.

Fort Worth Police Department · End of Watch December 1, 2005

Where the Name Is Cut

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