Roll of Honor
Anthony L. Oneto
Incident
Border Patrol Inspector Anthony Oneto was shot and killed after he and his partner arrested four illegal aliens and the man who was smuggling them through Indio, California. The two inspectors had placed the four aliens in the back seat of their vehicle and instructed the smuggler to drive his own car to the Border Patrol office. During the drive, the suspect stopped his vehicle on Highway 99 (modern-day Route 111) approximately 55 miles north of Truck Haven and walked back to Inspector Oneto's vehicle, which was following the suspect. The man said something to the inspectors and then produced a .32 caliber handgun and opened fire. Inspector Oneto was killed. Despite being wounded, his partner returned fire and wounded the suspect. The partner also managed to keep custody of the four illegal aliens until assistance arrived. The suspect was convicted of first-degree and executed in the gas chamber on October 10, 1948. Inspector Oneto was a United States Coast Guard veteran of WWII and recipient of the Silver Star who had served with the United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol for six and half years. He was survived by his mother and son. A room at the National Border Patrol Museum in El Paso, Texas, was named in his honor and displays pictures and possessions of Inspector Oneto, including his Silver Star.
Survivors
He was survived by his mother and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-19659EEE- 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.
Border Patrol Inspector Oneto gave the United States Department of Justice 6 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
Anthony L. Oneto served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Border Patrol Inspector Anthony L. Oneto 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 Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol, 15 of 68 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 22.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Anthony L. Oneto's cause is highlighted.
How Anthony L. Oneto Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1948
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Anthony L. Oneto is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Anthony L. Oneto was killed by handgun; .32 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
67 officers from United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
