Con Burns
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Con Burns

Felonious
End of Watch June 8, 1944
Age 64
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
The Vigil Panel 80 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Con Burns was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man he observed to be under the influence of alcohol. When he approached the suspect the man pulled out a revolver and shot him. Deputy Burns did not have a chance to draw his own weapon.

On February 22, 1945, the shooter, 40, was convicted of murder with malice and sentenced to 25 years confinement. He was paroled on November 10, 1947.

Deputy Burns had served with the Lynn County Sheriff's Department for six years and two years with the Knox County Sheriff's Department.

Deputy Con Burns was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man he observed to be under the influence of alcohol. When he approached the suspect the man pulled out a revolver and shot him. Deputy Burns did not have a chance to draw his own weapon.

Deputy Burns had served with the Lynn County Sheriff's Department for six years and two years with the Knox County Sheriff's Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, three daughters, and two sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-56E2578F
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Burns gave the Lynn County Sheriff's Office 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tahoka community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Burns.

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

Agency

Location Tahoka, TX
Platform Identity lcso.lynn.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 8, 1944
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 64
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber
Offender Paroled in 1947

Deputy Sheriff Con Burns is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Lynn County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Lynn County Sheriff's Office
3
of 4 officers
75% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,463
of 2,421 officers
60.4% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Con Burns's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Con Burns Compares

Age at End of Watch
64
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
8
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Paroled in 1947

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Con Burns is highlighted in Jun.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Con Burns was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518