Peter John Aguirre Jr.
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Peter John Aguirre Jr.

Felonious
End of Watch July 17, 1996
Age 26
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
The Vigil Panel 142 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Peter Aguirre was shot and killed while investigating a family disturbance with three other deputies on North Encinal Avenue in Meiners Oaks. After the wife exited the house, Deputy Aguirre entered to talk to the husband. The suspect shot and killed Deputy Aguirre inside the home and then ran outside naked with two guns and engaged the other three deputies in a shootout. The man was wounded by the return fire and taken to a local hospital. Deputy Aguirre, who did not even have time to draw his weapon, died of multiple gunshot wounds to the body and head. In March 1998, the suspect in Deputy Aguirre's murder was found guilty. On April 27th, 1998, he was sentenced to death. Deputy Aguirre had served with the Ventura County Sheriff's Office for two years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-7A777406
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Peter. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Aguirre gave the Ventura County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Ventura community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Aguirre.

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

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Ventura, Ventura County, CA
Platform Identity vcso.ventura.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 17, 1996
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Deputy Sheriff Peter John Aguirre 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 CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Ventura County Sheriff's Office, 9 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this agency's fallen.

Ventura County Sheriff's Office
9
of 13 officers
69.2% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% 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. Peter John Aguirre Jr.'s cause is highlighted.

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

How Peter John Aguirre Jr. Compares

Age at Death
26
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
2
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Peter John Aguirre Jr. is highlighted in Jul.

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. Peter John Aguirre Jr. was killed by handgun.

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

Incident Location