Roll of Honor
Thomas Sampson Morriss
Incident
About 5:00 a.m. U.S. Customs Inspector Tom Morriss and Inspector M.R. Rogers stopped an automobile carrying two men about four miles southwest of Fabens, El Paso County, Texas. The vehicle had crossed the boundary line near the Fabens “hole-in-the-wall” on San Elizario Island in the Rio Grande River. The inspectors had the two men outside the vehicle and were about to handcuff them when one of the men asked Inspector Morriss if he could roll a cigarette, and Morriss said he could. The man pulled a .38 automatic pistol and shot Inspector Morriss three times in the abdomen. He then fired on Inspector Rogers. The bullet passed through his leather jacket, a sweater, and two shirts. Inspector Rogers was knocked backwards, but the bullet did not enter his shoulder. Both inspectors fired at the fleeing man as he escaped into Mexico. The driver was captured and charged with liquor violations. The disposition of any case against his murderer is unknown. Inspector Morriss was taken to the Masonic Hospital in El Paso. He was conscious and recognized his friends and only lost consciousness a short time before his death at 4:30 p.m. that afternoon. U.S. Customs Chief Grover Webb and Inspector Morriss were attacked and wounded a short distance from where Morriss was fatally wounded when they stopped a car coming over the Lee Moore Bridge on May 19th, 1922. Both officers were shot through the jaw and their assailants escaped into Mexico. One newspaper reported that Inspector Morriss was survived by his father, mother, and sister while another newspaper stated he was survived by his widowed mother. He was buried in the Masonic Section of the Concordia Cemetery in El Paso.
Survivors
One newspaper reported that Inspector Morriss was survived by his father, mother, and sister while another newspaper stated he was survived by his widowed mother.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Inspector Morriss served with the United States Department of the Treasury.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Inspector Morriss.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Inspector Thomas Sampson Morriss is one of 17,559 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,586 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 0.8 percentage points below the national rate of 53.9%.
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 Sampson Morriss's cause is highlighted.
How Thomas Sampson Morriss Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Sampson Morriss is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Thomas Sampson Morriss 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.
