Charles H. Baker
Agency patch
Deputy City Marshal

Charles H. Baker

Felonious
End of Watch August 16, 1979
Age 52
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 121 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy City Marshal Charles Baker was shot and killed on Silvercrest Street, near Parker Road, when he and his partner stopped a man to serve a misdemeanor traffic warrant at about 9:30 pm. Unbeknownst to the deputy marshals, the man had just robbed a nearby bar. When they attempted to detain the man a struggle ensued. The suspect pulled out a handgun and shot Deputy Marshal Baker in the chest at point-blank range. He then shot at the other deputy marshal but struck the patrol car. He shot Deputy Marshal Baker once more in the thigh before he exchanged gunfire with the other deputy marshal. The subject was hit in the thigh before fleeing the scene. The man was apprehended four days later in Kentucky with an untreated bullet wound. He was extradited back to Texas, convicted of capital murder, and subsequently executed for the crime in 1986. Deputy Marshal Baker had served with the Houston Marshal's Office for four years and had previously served with the Houston Park Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-076AED9A
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 City Marshal Baker gave the Houston City Marshal's Office 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy City Marshal Baker.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Houston, TX
Platform Identity hmarshal.harris.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 16, 1979
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 52
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Deputy City Marshal Charles H. Baker 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%.

Houston City Marshal's Office
1
of 1 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. Charles H. Baker's cause is highlighted.

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

How Charles H. Baker Compares

Age at Death
52
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
4
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Charles H. Baker is highlighted in Aug.

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. Charles H. Baker was killed by handgun.

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

Incident Location

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from Houston City Marshal's Office are honored on badge.nw.