Roll of Honor
Thomas S. O'Connor
Incident
Location: Texas Weapon: Handgun Offender: Two shot and killed
Inspector Thomas O'Connor was shot and killed in Hudspeth County, Texas, as he and a justice of the peace confronted a father and his two sons who were walking near the riverfront at Fort Hancock.
The men were part of a gang of outlaws and were suspected in the disappearance and murder of Special Agent J.A. McClure of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad Police five days earlier.
As Inspector O'Connor and the justice searched two of the family members the third drew his pistol and shot Inspector O'Connor four times, killing him. One of the subjects and the justice were wounded in the ensuing shootout. A posse caught up with the three near Fort Hancock two days later. In a gun battle that resulted, the father and one brother were killed and the other brother arrested. The arrested brother said they killed Special Agent McClure.
Inspector O'Connor had served with the United States Customs Service for two years. He was survived by his wife, two children, and his mother. He was buried in the Concordia Cemetery in El Paso.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two children, and his mother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-AF399353- 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
You barely got started.
Inspector O'Connor gave the United States Department of the Treasury 1 year.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector O'Connor.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Inspector Thomas S. O'Connor 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 the Treasury - United States Customs Service, 47 of 94 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas S. O'Connor's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas S. O'Connor Compares
Offender Outcome
Two shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas S. O'Connor is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas S. O'Connor was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
93 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
