Roll of Honor
Incident
Shortly after sundown, Sheriff William R. McMullen along with his son, Foster, responded from his residence to reports of gunshots in the area of the town square in Homer. Shortly after the sheriff entered the town square he was shot and killed by an unknown person. As soon as the sheriff was shot, all the shooting stopped and those involved fled the scene.
Various reports in the newspapers and history books reported the shooting resulted in the death of as many as five people, and eighteen wounded. The shooting of Sheriff McMullen occurred shortly after the Civil War ended when factions who supported both the north and south were feuding in Angelina County. Locally the fighting became known as the Gilley War. Gilley family members were feuding with Windham family members. The person or persons responsible for the death of Sheriff William Read McMullen were not identified.
Sheriff McMullen was survived by his wife and six children. He is buried in the Homer Cemetery in Angelina County, Texas. He was a Civil War Veteran who was a first lieutenant in the 13th Texas Calvary, Company F.
Survivors
Sheriff McMullen was survived by his wife and six children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-D97A1FFA- 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.
Sheriff McMullen gave the Angelina County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lufkin community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
William Read McMullen served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sheriff William Read McMullen 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 TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Angelina County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 3 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. William Read McMullen's cause is highlighted.
How William Read McMullen Compares
Offender Outcome
unknown
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Read McMullen is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. William Read McMullen was killed by unknown weapon.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Angelina County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
