Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer James Irby was shot and killed when he stopped a car for a minor traffic violation near the intersection of Airline Drive and Lyerly Street. As he was talking with the driver, the passenger exited the vehicle and shot Officer Irby five times with a .357 handgun. The suspect was convicted of Officer Irby's murder and subsequently sentenced to death. He was executed by lethal injestion on April 21, 2022. Now 78, he was Texas' oldest death row inmate. Officer Irby had served 17 years with the Houston Police Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-063E5CA0- 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Irby gave the Houston Police Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Irby.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer James Bruce Irby 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 Houston Police Department, 84 of 117 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Bruce Irby's cause is highlighted.
How James Bruce Irby Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 2022
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Bruce Irby is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Bruce Irby was killed by handgun; .357 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
116 officers from Houston Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
