Roll of Honor

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Deputy Sheriff

Joshua Shane Mitchell

Reagan County Sheriff's Office — Big Lake, TX

Felonious

End of Watch August 1, 2012

Age 26

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 161 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Josh Mitchell was shot and killed as he and other officers searched for a suicidal suspect in Big Lake, Texas, shortly after 6:00 pm.

The suspect was encountered in the 1100 block of Main Street and he opened fire on Deputy Mitchell, fatally wounding him. Deputy Mitchell succumbed to his wounds while being transported to a hospital in San Angelo.

The suspect barricaded himself in his home but was taken into custody after shooting himself in the face. He died of the self-inflicted gunshot wound one week later.

Deputy Mitchell had served with the Reagan County Sheriff's Office for six years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, parents, siblings, and grandparents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-8D618038
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 Sheriff Mitchell gave the Reagan County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Big Lake community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Mitchell.

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

Agency

Department Reagan County Sheriff's Office

Location Big Lake, TX

Platform Identity rcso.reagan.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 1, 2012

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Rifle

Offender Committed suicide

Deputy Sheriff Joshua Shane Mitchell 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%.

Reagan County Sheriff's Office

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joshua Shane Mitchell's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Joshua Shane Mitchell Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Committed suicide

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joshua Shane Mitchell is highlighted in Aug.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joshua Shane Mitchell was killed by rifle.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518