Terrell Edwin Horne, III
Incident
Location: California Weapon: Boat Offender: Convicted of murder
Senior Chief Petty Officer Terrell Horne was killed when the rigid hull inflatable boat he was commanding was intentionally rammed by a boat being used to smuggle drugs off Santa Cruz Island, California.
Shortly after midnight, a U.S. Coast Guard aerial patrol had observed a suspicious boat in the area believed to be involved in narcotics trafficking. A boarding team was deployed from the USCGC Halibut to interdict and board the vessel.
The boarding team made contact with the boat, which then accelerated toward them without changing course. The smuggler's boat struck the boarding team's boat, knocking SCPO Horne and a shipmate into the water. Both crewman were immediately recovered. SCPO Horne was transported to a hospital in Port Hueneme, California, where he succumbed to his severe head injuries.
Two illegal aliens on board the smuggler's boat were taken into custody and the boat seized. In February 2014 one of the subjects was convicted of murder, and both subjects were convicted of other charges connected with the incident.
SCPO Horne had served in the United States Coast Guard for 14 years and was posthumously promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer.
Survivors
He is survived by his expectant wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-646B27E7- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Horne gave the United States Coast Guard 14 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Terrell Edwin Horne, III served in the Coast Guard (1999â2012) before joining law enforcement.
Senior Chief Petty Officer Terrell Edwin Horne, III 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At United States Coast Guard, 4 of 24 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 16.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Terrell Edwin Horne, III's cause is highlighted.
How Terrell Edwin Horne, III Compares
Offender Outcome
Convicted of murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Terrell Edwin Horne, III is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Terrell Edwin Horne, III was killed by boat.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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