Alexander Stevens Downs, Jr

Nueces County Sheriff's Office — Corpus Christi, TX

Felonious

End of Watch October 16, 1932

Age 23

The Vigil Panel 65 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 8

Incident

Nueces County Deputy Sheriff Alexander S. Downs, Jr., was working at a dance when he confronted Liborio Garza who was intoxicated and creating a disturbance. Deputy Sheriff Downs told Garza to "cut out the racket." As the deputy sheriff walked away Garza shot him and three bystanders. Deputy Sheriff Downs was taken to a doctor's home and died a few minutes later. Bystander Francisco Villarreal died and Jose Rodriguez and Andres Garcia were wounded. Liborio Garza pled insanity based on intoxication and smoking marijuana.

On January 7, 1933, Liborio Garza, 31, was convicted of murder and sentenced to 99 years in prison. He was pardoned on September 16, 1961.

Deputy Sheriff Downs was 23 years old and was survived by his wife and infant son.

Survivors

Deputy Sheriff Downs was 23 years old and was survived by his wife and infant son.

In Our Keeping

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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 Downs served with the Nueces County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Corpus Christi community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Downs.

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

Agency

Department Nueces County Sheriff's Office

Location Corpus Christi, TX

Platform Identity ncso.nueces.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 16, 1932

Age 23

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Pardoned in 1961

Deputy Sheriff Alexander Stevens Downs, Jr 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 Nueces County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 77.8% of this agency's fallen.

Nueces County Sheriff's Office

of 9 officers

77.8% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious