Roll of Honor
Francisco A. Cisneros
Incident
On Sunday morning, July 26, 1931, Willacy County Precinct 2 Constable William F. Haygood, and his deputy, Francisco A. Cisneros, were shot to death. Willacy County Jailer Jose Guzman was also shot in the same incident, but survived.
Haygood, Cisneros and Guzman were investigating a suspicious vehicle parked on the side of the road near a cemetery. The lawmen thought the car contained some bootleggers. As the officers slowed their vehicle to talk to the man and woman in the suspicious car, both the man and woman got out of the car and approached the officers who were still seated in their vehicle. Just as the male walked up to the officer’s vehicle, the man opened fire striking Deputy Constable Cisneros on his right wrist. As Constable Haygood exited the vehicle, he was shot in the back, killing him instantly. The gunman then turned and shot Deputy Constable Cisneros several more times, with bullets entering his left side and heart. Jailer Guzman, crouching on the floor of the car, received a bullet wound to the mouth.
After the shooting, the male fled into brush, abandoning his vehicle and his girlfriend, identified as Domlaga Bueno, age 20.
Jailer Guzman fled into Raymondville and summoned assistance. Willacy County Deputies A. I. Pytle and John Nolen arrived at the scene. The officers searched for the suspect, but it was felt that he had fled across the border to Mexico.
Willacy County Justice of the Peace J. B. Huffer, who held an inquest, stated that he found Deputy Constable Cisneros slumped in the front seat of the car, dead, his gun lying in the road with one shell exploded. Constable Haygood was lying on his back on the right side of the car, his gun still in the holster. Officers felt the shooting was in retaliation for a bootlegging arrest that Deputy Constable Cisneros had made weeks earlier.
Deputy Constable Francisco A. Cisneros, 23, was born and raised in Raymondville, Texas. He was survived by his wife, Juanna Gonzaba. He was buried at the La Piedad #1 Cemetery in Raymondville, Texas.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, Juanna Gonzaba.
In Our Keeping
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- 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.
Deputy Constable Cisneros served with the Willacy County Constable's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Raymondville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Constable Cisneros.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Constable Francisco A. Cisneros 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 97,756 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%.
At Willacy County Constable's Office - Precinct 2, 2 of 2 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. Francisco A. Cisneros's cause is highlighted.
How Francisco A. Cisneros Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Francisco A. Cisneros is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Francisco A. Cisneros was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Willacy County Constable's Office - Precinct 2 are honored on badge.nw.
