Abner Matlock

Atascosa County Sheriff's Department — Jourdanton, TX

Felonious

End of Watch August 12, 1911

Age 40

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

The Vigil Panel 25 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Deputy Abner Matlock was shot and killed when he attempted to arrest a man for firearm possession.

Deputy Matlock was advised by a citizen that a man was in possession of a pistol. Deputy Matlock knew the suspect because he had removed him from a dance several weeks before for causing a disturbance.

At approximately 1730 hours, Deputy Matlock approached the suspect and demanded the pistol. The suspect drew the pistol from his pocket and pointed it at Deputy Matlock, who fired at the suspect. The suspect was wounded on the side; however, he was able to fire his weapon and his bullet struck Deputy Matlock in the hand, causing him to drop his pistol. The suspect then seized Deputy Matlock’s pistol and shot him four more times. Deputy Matlock died two hours later from his wounds.

The suspect fled the scene pursued by a posse. He turned and fired 2 shots at the posse, which returned fire, killing him.

Deputy Abner Matlock had served with the Atascosa County Sheriff's Department for approximately three years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-377A49C3
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 Matlock gave the Atascosa County Sheriff's Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Jourdanton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Matlock.

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

Agency

Department Atascosa County Sheriff's Department

Location Jourdanton, TX

Platform Identity acso.atascosa.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 12, 1911

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 40

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Shot and killed

Deputy Sheriff Abner Matlock 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 Atascosa County Sheriff's Department, 7 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Atascosa County Sheriff's Department

of 7 officers

100% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious