Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Jake Owens and Sheriff Robert Smith were shot and killed after arresting two men for stealing seed cotton. The officers allowed the men to go home and change before transporting them to jail. During the transport one of the suspects pulled out a concealed weapon and shot Sheriff Smith in the head, killing him. Deputy Owens jumped from the vehicle but was gunned down by the suspects. The suspect in the killing of Deputy Owens and Sheriff Smith was sentenced to death, but was sent to a state mental hospital. He was declared sane, returned to prison and electrocuted at the Texas State Prison in Huntsville on October 17th, 1930.
Survivors
Deputy Owens was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-55EAE270- 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 Owens served with the Fisher County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Roby community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Owens.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Jake Owens 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 Fisher County Sheriff's Department, 3 of 3 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. Jake Owens's cause is highlighted.
How Jake Owens Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jake Owens is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jake Owens was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Fisher County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
