Roll of Honor
Incident
Ranger Private Quirl B. Carnes and Deputy Sheriff Henry Lawrence of the Cameron County Sheriff's Officer were shot and killed while searching for a murder suspect near San Benito, Texas. A cousin of the murder suspect informed authorities that the suspect was returning to the area and would cross the Rio Grande River. A group of Cameron County Sheriff's Office deputies, Texas Rangers, and posse members went to the Rio Grande River crossing to wait for the suspect. After midnight, they heard a group of men approaching. One of the officers hailed the group to stop. A fusillade erupted. Private Carnes and Deputy Lawrence were shot as they arose from a crouch. Private Carnes was mortally wounded with seven rifle wounds, one bullet entering through the back of his head and exiting his right eye. He lived until 9:00 a.m. Deputy Lawrence died instantly from seven buckshots in the right side of his head. A posse found the body of the suspect's cousin the next day. The suspect was never arrested and disappeared into Mexico. Authorities believe the cousin led the officers into an ambush. Ranger Private Quirl B. Carnes had served with the Texas Rangers for almost two years. He had just turned 26 years old and was single. He was buried in Floresville in Wilson County. His brother, U.S. Customs Inspector Herff Carnes, a former Texas Ranger, was shot in the line of duty and died on December 4, 1932.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-TX-5B4FD3A2- 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.
Ranger Carnes gave the Texas Rangers 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Ranger Carnes.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Ranger Quirl Bailey Carnes 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 Texas Rangers, 104 of 122 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Quirl Bailey Carnes's cause is highlighted.
How Quirl Bailey Carnes Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Quirl Bailey Carnes is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Quirl Bailey Carnes was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
121 officers from Texas Rangers are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
