Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Paul Vinson and Patrolman Gayle Holmes, of the Texas Department of Public Safety, were shot and killed while answering 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 porch of the store 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. Sheriff Vinson was serving his second term.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-556FC062- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sheriff Vinson served with the King County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Guthrie community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Vinson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Paul Roy Vinson is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,460 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Paul Roy Vinson's cause is highlighted.
How Paul Roy Vinson Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Paul Roy Vinson is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Paul Roy Vinson was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from King County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.