Roll of Honor
Incident
Night Watchman Pink Barnhill succumbed to a gunshot wound he received while patrolling near the train tracks at Kenedy Avenue in Kingsville.
At 10:30 p.m., two fugitives arrived in Kingsville and attacked Night Watchman Barnhill. He was hit over the head, and they took his pistol, shooting him in the stomach. The sound of gunfire alerted other officers, who warned surrounding officers and the state patrol. The subjects robbed the Edwards Grocery Store before overpowering a car, taking three people hostage, and forcing them to drive to Corpus Christi. When the car stopped at a blockade, the subjects shot and killed the female passenger and fled on foot.
The subjects were killed after firing on two highway patrolmen and a deputy sheriff at dawn. The fugitives started their criminal spree on June 27, 1940, in Nacogdoches by hijacking vehicles and robbing stores as they traveled south, which resulted in one of the most costly manhunts in Texas at the time.
Night Watchman Barnhill was transported to Kleberg County Hospital where he passed away after surgery the next day.
Night Watchman Barnhill had served with the Kingsville Police Department for 14 years and previously served with the Texas Rangers for six years and the United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service for four years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three sons, two daughters, a niece, a nephew, and four grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-BA612CE3- 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
24 years. You could have gone home.
Night Watchman Barnhill gave the Kingsville Police Department 24 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Kingsville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Night Watchman Barnhill.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Night Watchman Pinkney Lambert Barnhill 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 Kingsville Police Department, 4 of 4 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. Pinkney Lambert Barnhill's cause is highlighted.
How Pinkney Lambert Barnhill Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Pinkney Lambert Barnhill is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Pinkney Lambert Barnhill was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Kingsville Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
