Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Julius Pierce was shot and killed by a man who he had just arrested.
Shortly before midnight, Sheriff J. J. Pierce was investigating a bootlegging operation in the city of Ralls. He arrested a suspect who had numerous convictions for liquor violations. As Sheriff Pierce walked the suspect to the sheriff's car, the suspect grabbed the sheriff's revolver and shot him five times. Neighbors heard the gunfire and saw the suspect drive off from the scene. The sheriff's body was found in a vacant lot.
The suspect was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled after 17 years.
Sheriff Pierce had served with the Crosby County Sheriff's Office for seven months.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and 8 children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-8A63372B- Stewardship
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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.
Sheriff Pierce served with the Crosby County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Crosbyton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff Pierce.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Julius Jewell Pierce 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. Julius Jewell Pierce's cause is highlighted.
How Julius Jewell Pierce Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled after 17 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Julius Jewell Pierce is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Julius Jewell Pierce was killed by officer's handgun.