Roll of Honor
Gayle Lamar Holmes
Incident
Patrolman Holmes and Sheriff Paul Vinson of the King County Sheriff's Department, Texas, were shot and killed while responding to a disturbance call outside a rural store between Paducah and Guthrie. While they were placing one man in the patrol car, another man stepped onto the store's porch behind them and began firing. A third highway patrolman returned fire but suffered no injury. The suspect, 20, was taken into custody at a ranch about a mile away. He was later convicted of Sheriff Vinson's murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was denied parole on March 16, 2018. His next parole hearing is in January of 2023. Patrolman Holmes had been with the Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol for only 12 days and was stationed at Spur.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-337CD5CF- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Gayle. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Holmes served with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Thank you for your service to the people of Texas. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Holmes.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Gayle Lamar Holmes 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 Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, 36 of 96 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 37.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gayle Lamar Holmes's cause is highlighted.
How Gayle Lamar Holmes Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gayle Lamar Holmes is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gayle Lamar Holmes was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
95 officers from Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
