Byford Henry Hunter
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Byford Henry Hunter

Felonious
End of Watch September 11, 1982
Age 33
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 126 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Byford Hunter was shot and killed while attempting to serve a misdemeanor warrant on a man with a history of resisting arrest. During the incident, the suspect and the suspect's uncle assaulted Deputy Hunter and tried to gain control of his service weapon. Deputy Hunter was able to shoot and kill the suspect during the struggle but was shot numerous times by the uncle. As he retreated from the house, he was shot several more times in the back. He made it to his patrol and called for backup but succumbed to his wounds. The uncle, who was wounded, fled the scene but turned himself in with his attorney later that day. He was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years. Deputy Hunter had served with the Angelina County Sheriff's Office for two years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-76D8A1E2
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 Hunter gave the Angelina County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lufkin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Hunter.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Lufkin, Angelina County, TX
Platform Identity acso.angelina.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 11, 1982
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

Deputy Sheriff Byford Henry Hunter 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 Angelina County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Angelina County Sheriff's Office
3
of 3 officers
100% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,461
of 2,422 officers
60.3% 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. Byford Henry Hunter's cause is highlighted.

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

How Byford Henry Hunter Compares

Age at Death
33
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Byford Henry Hunter is highlighted in Sep.

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. Byford Henry Hunter was killed by rifle.

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

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Angelina County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.