End of Watch July 6, 1952
Age 44
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
The Vigil Panel 88 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Border Patrol Inspector Edwin Wheeler was shot and killed near Mathis, Texas, after conducting government business in the city.

He had contacted one of his sources in the city. His body was found in his vehicle which had been driven Nueces River Bridge on Highway 59 north of Sandia. No suspects were ever identified.

Inspector Wheeler had served with the United States Border Patrol for 11 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-ED26D6CE
Stewardship
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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.
Border Patrol Inspector Wheeler gave the United States Department of Justice 11 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Border Patrol Inspector Wheeler.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdjinsusbpfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 6, 1952
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 44
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Border Patrol Inspector Edwin H. Wheeler 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 DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol, 15 of 68 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 22.1% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol
15
of 68 officers
22.1% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,418 officers
53.2% 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. Edwin H. Wheeler's cause is highlighted.

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

How Edwin H. Wheeler Compares

Age at Death
44
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
11
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edwin H. Wheeler is highlighted in Jul.

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. Edwin H. Wheeler was killed by gun.

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

Incident Location