Antonio T. Shelby
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Antonio T. Shelby

Felonious
End of Watch April 7, 1908
Age 40
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 22 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Antonio Shelby was shot and killed by a drunk man who was creating a disturbance at a local saloon. The deputy has observed the man mistreating his son in front of the saloon and escorted the boy home. When Deputy Shelby returned to the location the man was acting drunk and disorderly.

When Deputy Shelby told him to calm down, the man responded by firing at him. The round struck the deputy in the throat, killing him. The suspect fled the scene but was apprehended a short time later. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life.

Deputy Shelby had served with the agency for 5 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CO-0A735635
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 Shelby gave the Las Animas County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Trinidad community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Shelby.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Trinidad, Las Animas County, CO
Platform Identity lacso.lasanimas.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 7, 1908
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 40
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Deputy Sheriff Antonio T. Shelby 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 CO, 235 of 360 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 65.3% of this state's fallen. That is 65.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Las Animas County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Las Animas County Sheriff's Office
7
of 7 officers
100% Felonious
CO — Statewide
235
of 360 officers
65.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Antonio T. Shelby's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Antonio T. Shelby Compares

Age at Death
40
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Antonio T. Shelby is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909