End of Watch April 21, 1978
Age 31
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
The Vigil Panel 119 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Border Patrol Agent Jose Gamez was choked to death by suspected illegal aliens while on patrol approximately eight miles north of Quemado, Texas, at about 11:30 pm. After murdering Agent Gamez, the suspects dragged his body into a nearby canal, where it was found the next morning. The suspects were never identified. Agent Gamez had served with the United States Border Patrol for one year. He is buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Laredo, Texas.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-E0623053
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

You barely got started.
Border Patrol Agent Gamez gave the United States Department of Justice 1 year.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Border Patrol Agent Gamez.

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

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdjinsusbpfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 21, 1978
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 31
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Person

Border Patrol Agent Jose Paz Gamez Jr. 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 DC, 754 of 1,418 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.2% of this state's fallen. That is 53.2 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol, 15 of 68 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 22.1% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol
15
of 68 officers
22.1% Felonious
DC — Statewide
754
of 1,418 officers
53.2% 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. Jose Paz Gamez Jr.'s cause is highlighted.

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

How Jose Paz Gamez Jr. Compares

Age at Death
31
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jose Paz Gamez Jr. is highlighted in Apr.

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. Jose Paz Gamez Jr. was killed by person.

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

Incident Location