Frank D. Howell
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Frank D. Howell

Tarrant County Sheriff's Office — Fort Worth, TX
Felonious
End of Watch November 3, 1986
Age 38
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
The Vigil Panel 131 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Frank Howell was shot and killed while investigating a suspicious vehicle parked in a lot at 400 W. Felix Street. The suspect began to resist arrest and was able to gain control of Deputy Howell's service weapon. Deputy Howell was shot as he attempted to call for backup. The suspect was arrested in 1996 by Mexican federal law enforcement officers. He was tried and convicted of the murder in a Mexican court and sentenced to 30 years in a Mexican prison. Deputy Howell had served with the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office for 15 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-57EE45A8
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 Howell gave the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fort Worth community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Howell.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Fort Worth, Tarrant County, TX
Platform Identity tcso.tarrant.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 3, 1986
Tour of Duty 15 yrs
Age 38
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Deputy Sheriff Frank D. Howell 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 Tarrant County Sheriff's Office, 5 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 38.5% of this agency's fallen.

Tarrant County Sheriff's Office
5
of 13 officers
38.5% 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. Frank D. Howell's cause is highlighted.

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

How Frank D. Howell Compares

Age at Death
38
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
15
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Frank D. Howell is highlighted in Nov.

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. Frank D. Howell was killed by officer's handgun.

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

Incident Location