Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Carrol Copeland succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous evening after stopping a car that had been driven away from a gas station in Shamrock without paying for $3.20 of gas. Deputy Copeland stopped the vehicle 10 miles east of Shamrock on US 60. He spoke with the two occupants, and the driver refused to return to the gas station. The man pulled out a pistol and shot Deputy Copeland in the chest. Deputy Copeland was able to return fire and wounded the suspect. Both men fled to Oklahoma, where they were arrested a short time later. The vehicle was stolen, one of the suspects was AWOL from the U.S. Military, and the shooter was a member of street gang in California. In the vehicle, they found the murder weapon and several more guns. Both suspects stood trial for the murder. One suspect received two years in exchange for testifying against the actual murderer of Deputy Copeland. The murderer, a 17 year old street gang member, received a 99 year prison sentence. Deputy Copeland had served with the Wheeler County Sheriff's Office for only five months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, three children, and a stepson he was planning to adopt.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-265B95A8- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Copeland served with the Wheeler County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Wheeler community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Copeland.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Carrol Vinson Copeland 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 Wheeler County Sheriff's Office, 1 of 2 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. Carrol Vinson Copeland's cause is highlighted.
How Carrol Vinson Copeland Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 99 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Carrol Vinson Copeland is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Carrol Vinson Copeland was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Wheeler County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
