Roll of Honor
Incident
Investigator Lemuel Bruce was shot and killed at about 3:30 am while conducting surveillance as part of an ongoing arson investigation in the Timbergrove and Heights areas.
He and six other investigators were conducting surveillance following a string of vehicle fires. Investigator Bruce noticed a car matching the description near the intersection of Seamist Drive and West 18th Street, four blocks away from where another vehicle fire had been set minutes earlier. He was in radio contact with the other investigators and was attempting to coordinate a stop of the vehicle when the man opened fire on him, striking him multiple times.
Despite his wounds, Investigator Bruce was able to return fire. The subject committed suicide.
Investigator Bruce was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He had served with the Houston Fire Department for 16 years and had been assigned to the Houston Fire Marshal's Office as a sworn arson investigator for five years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, 12-year-old daughter, and 8-year-old son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-44ECF2F0- 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.
Investigator Bruce gave the Houston Fire Marshal's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Thank you 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
Lemuel Delray Bruce served in the Marine Corps (1995â2000) before joining law enforcement.
Investigator Lemuel Delray Bruce 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Lemuel Delray Bruce's cause is highlighted.
How Lemuel Delray Bruce Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Lemuel Delray Bruce is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Lemuel Delray Bruce was killed by gun; unknown type.