Berry Joe McGuire

Amarillo Police Dept. — Amarillo, TX

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch December 25, 1980

Age 26

The Vigil Panel 123 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 15

Incident

Patrolman Berry McGuire was shot and killed following a traffic stop on the 900 block of South Willow Street. After arresting one of the suspects in the vehicle the man attempted to flee. As Patrolman McGuire attempted to put the subject back in the patrol car the other occupants of the vehicle he stopped came to the subject's assistance. During the struggle one of the men took Patrolman McGuire's gun and shot him twice. He was then held on the ground by two of the men and a third shot him in the head, killing him. The subjects then fled the scene but were all apprehended. Three of the men, who were brothers aged 17, 19, and 23, were sentenced to life. The 17-year-old was denied parole on May 5, 2021. His next parole hearing is in May of 2024. The 19-year-old was denied parole on March 30, 2021. His next parole hearing is in March of 2024. The third suspect was denied parole on June 8, 2021. his next parole hearing is in June of 2024. The fourth was not charged when it was determined he attempted to help Patrolman McGuire during the struggle. Patrolman McGuire was a veteran of the Texas Air National Guard.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-1328A976
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.
Patrolman McGuire served with the Amarillo Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Amarillo community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Amarillo Police Dept.

Location Amarillo, TX

Platform Identity apd.potter.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 25, 1980

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender traffic stop

Military Service

Berry Joe McGuire served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Patrolman Berry Joe McGuire 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 Amarillo Police Dept., 10 of 16 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.5% of this agency's fallen.

Amarillo Police Dept.

of 16 officers

62.5% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious