Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Hector Garza was shot and killed after responding to a domestic dispute.
Two officers were initially called to the residence at approximately 7:45 a.m. to stand guard while a resident removed possessions from the house. Officers were summoned back to the residence at approximately 8:55 a.m. for another disturbance involving the man and his wife. The two were arguing in a bedroom, and the male had his back to Patrolman Garza when he attempted to separate the two. The male suddenly spun around and shot Patrolman Garza in the head with a Mac-10 semi-automatic handgun.
The suspect then shot and killed his wife before chasing the woman's brother-in-law. After running out of ammunition, he went back into the home and got an AK-47 shot and wounded the brother-in-law, and then shot Patrolman Garza again as he lay on the ground.
The suspect was apprehended and charged with two counts of capital murder and three counts of attempted capital murder. The suspect's mother was also charged in connection with starting the incident that led to the murders and sentenced to one year in prison.
Patrolman Garza's killer was convicted of capital murder and subsequently executed on October 27, 2011.
Patrolman Garza had served with the San Antonio Police Department for 25 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-2A609259- 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
25 years. You could have gone home.
Patrolman Garza gave the San Antonio Police Department 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the San Antonio community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Garza.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Hector Garza 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 San Antonio Police Department, 40 of 64 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Hector Garza's cause is highlighted.
How Hector Garza Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Hector Garza is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Hector Garza was killed by handgun; mac-10.
Others Who Wore This Badge
63 officers from San Antonio Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
