Roll of Honor
Aerl Lee Jernigan
Incident
Deputy Jernigan was shot and killed while responding to a disturbance at a convenience store on Highway 16 near the Bexar County Line. Two drunks were harassing customers. When he arrived at the scene the two had driven away and parked their car on the shoulder of the road about 300 yards away. As Deputy Jernigan stopped behind their car a deer hunter at the store watched through the scope of his rifle. He said the two got out of their car, shot Deputy Jernigan and then started kicking him as he lay on the ground. The hunter fired a warning shot and then opened fire on their car as they fled. Both were apprehended within an hour. The suspects, brothers, 51 and 54, were convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. On December 15, 1982, the Texas Court of Appeals ordered new trials for both. Both were sentenced to life. Deputy Jernigan was survived by his wife and two sons. He was a retired U.S. Air Force pilot.
Survivors
Deputy Jernigan was survived by his wife and two sons.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-40185BBA- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Jernigan served with the Atascosa County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Jourdanton 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Aerl Lee Jernigan served in the Other (1971) before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff Aerl Lee Jernigan 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Aerl Lee Jernigan's cause is highlighted.
How Aerl Lee Jernigan Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentence commuted to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Aerl Lee Jernigan is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Aerl Lee Jernigan was killed by rifle; .30-.30.
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Atascosa County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
