Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Peter Herrera succumbed to wounds sustained when he was shot after pulling over a vehicle in San Elizario at 1:50 am.
He had stopped the vehicle for a registration violation near the corner of Chicken Ranch Road and Socorro Road. He approached the car and asked the driver to step out. As the driver exited the vehicle, he fired 15 rounds, striking Deputy Herrera multiple times. Deputy Herrara did not have an opportunity to draw his own weapon.
A civilian and members of the U.S. Border Patrol and El Paso County Sheriff's Office provided aid to Deputy Herrera. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, where he succumbed to his wounds two days later.
The driver and the passenger fled the scene in the vehicle, but it stalled out several blocks away. The two then fled on foot but were located and apprehended a short time later by responding deputies. The passenger pled guilty to manslaughter, and she was sentenced to 15 years in prison. The subject who shot Deputy Herrera was convicted of capital murder and was sentenced to death.
Deputy Herrera had served with the El Paso County Sheriff's Office for 11 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-7E3EEB6F- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Herrera gave the El Paso County Sheriff's Office 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the El Paso community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Herrera.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Peter John Herrera 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 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 El Paso County Sheriff's Office, 6 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Peter John Herrera's cause is highlighted.
How Peter John Herrera Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Peter John Herrera is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Peter John Herrera was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from El Paso County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
