Roll of Honor
Gayle Lamar Holmes
Incident
Patrolman Holmes and Sheriff Paul Vinson of the King County Sheriff's Department, Texas, were shot and killed while responding to a disturbance call outside a rural store between Paducah and Guthrie. While they were placing one man in the patrol car, another man stepped onto the store's porch behind them and began firing. A third highway patrolman returned fire but suffered no injury. The suspect, 20, was taken into custody at a ranch about a mile away. He was later convicted of Sheriff Vinson's murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was denied parole on March 16, 2018. His next parole hearing is in January of 2023. Patrolman Holmes had been with the Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol for only 12 days and was stationed at Spur.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-337CD5CF- 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.
Patrolman Holmes served with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Thank you for your service to the people of Texas. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Holmes.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman Gayle Lamar Holmes 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 Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, 35 of 95 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 36.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gayle Lamar Holmes's cause is highlighted.
How Gayle Lamar Holmes Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life imprisonment
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gayle Lamar Holmes is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gayle Lamar Holmes was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
94 officers from Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
