Henry C. Banks
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Henry C. Banks

Hays County Sheriff's Office — San Marcos, TX
Felonious
End of Watch November 16, 1873
Age 21
Tour of Duty
The Vigil Panel 4 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Henry Banks was shot and killed while returning to Hays County after transporting several prisoners to Austin.

He encountered a disorderly man who was harassing a man and his wife. As Deputy Banks attempted to arrest him the man attacked him. The subject was able to disarm Deputy Banks and then fatally shot him with his own service revolver.

The subject was apprehended, convicted of first degree murder, and sentenced to death. The death sentence was subsequently overturned on appeal.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-91123468
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

153 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Banks served with the Hays County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the San Marcos community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location San Marcos, Hays County, TX
Platform Identity hcso.hays.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 16, 1873
Tour of Duty
Age 21
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Officer's handgun

Deputy Sheriff Henry C. Banks 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 97,784 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 Hays County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Hays County Sheriff's Office
2
of 4 officers
50% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,461
of 2,422 officers
60.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,784 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Henry C. Banks's cause is highlighted.

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

How Henry C. Banks Compares

Age at Death
21
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Henry C. Banks 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. Henry C. Banks 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