Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Coleman left the county seat at Bryan on or about March 6, 1878, on horseback to serve process papers in the county. His horse was found on March 7th with his overcoat tied to the saddle, having six buckshot holes through it. Blood was found on the saddle and horse. A search was instituted and his body was never recovered. The newspaper reported that Coleman is said to have many enemies in the county.
In May a warrant was issued for W.N. Dobbs (also reported as Dabbs), a constable in one of the county precincts, for the murder of Deputy Coleman. Sheriff William B. Forman and a posse of seven men went to Dobbs' house and surrounded it. The sheriff entered Dobbs' house and engaged in social conversation with one of his brothers.
The posse heard the conversation and thought Dobbs had surrendered. As they entered the house Posseman George Gentry saw Dobbs with his pistol raised and the muzzle within two feet of his head. The cap popped but the pistol did not fire. Gentry fired at Dobbs and missed. Two other posse men entered and Dobbs fired at them. Dobbs was wounded in the thigh, his ear was shot off and his pistol was broken by a round. Dobbs fled the scene. A man was arrested and charged with aiding in Dobbs' escape. No information is known at this time if Dobbs was ever arrested or convicted of the murder.
No personal information is known from the newspaper accounts of the incident.
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- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
148 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Coleman served with the Brazos County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Bryan community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Lafayette Coleman is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Brazos County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lafayette Coleman's cause is highlighted.
How Lafayette Coleman Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lafayette Coleman is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Brazos County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
