Roll of Honor
Alexander Stevens Downs, JR
Incident
Nueces County Deputy Sheriff Alexander S. Downs, Jr., was working at a dance when he confronted Liborio Garza who was intoxicated and creating a disturbance. Deputy Sheriff Downs told Garza to "cut out the racket." As the deputy sheriff walked away Garza shot him and three bystanders. Deputy Sheriff Downs was taken to a doctor's home and died a few minutes later. Bystander Francisco Villarreal died and Jose Rodriguez and Andres Garcia were wounded. Liborio Garza pled insanity based on intoxication and smoking marijuana.
On January 7, 1933, Liborio Garza, 31, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison. He was pardoned on September 16, 1961.
Deputy Sheriff Downs was 23 years old and was survived by his wife and infant son.
Survivors
Deputy Sheriff Downs was 23 years old and was survived by his wife and infant son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-5A1461CE- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Downs served with the Nueces County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Corpus Christi community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Downs.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Alexander Stevens Downs, JR is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,461 of 2,422 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At Nueces County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 77.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Alexander Stevens Downs, JR's cause is highlighted.
How Alexander Stevens Downs, JR Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Alexander Stevens Downs, JR is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Alexander Stevens Downs, JR was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Nueces County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
