Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Johnny Bamsch was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a suspect during a robbery-in-progress call at a convenience store at Yale and Norview at 1 a.m. As he and his partner pursued the suspects, gunfire was exchanged, and Officer Bamsch was struck in the shoulder. He was transported to Parkway Hospital where he was pronounced dead. One of the suspects, 18, hit with a shotgun blast in the back, fired by his partner, was hospitalized in serious condition. The other two escaped. The suspect, 18, also the killer, was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison. As of January 1, 2022, he was still in prison. Officer Bamsch was a U.S. Marine Corps Vietnam veteran and had served with the Houston Police Department for two and a half years.
Survivors
He was survived by his expectant wife and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-069CF8A2- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. John is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Bamsch gave the Houston Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John Terrell Bamsch served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer John Terrell Bamsch 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 97,759 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,460 of 2,421 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 Houston Police Department, 84 of 117 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Terrell Bamsch's cause is highlighted.
How John Terrell Bamsch Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Terrell Bamsch is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Terrell Bamsch was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Military Service
John Terrell Bamsch served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.
Visit John Terrell Bamsch’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
116 officers from Houston Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
