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Rudy M. Gonzales
Deputy Sheriff

Rudy M. Gonzales

Lubbock County Sheriff's Dept. — Lubbock, TX
Felonious
United States flag Texas flag
End of Watch February 25, 1996
Age 35
The Vigil Panel 142 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 3

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Rudy Gonzales was killed in an automobile crash on Slaton Highway while responding to a domestic disturbance call.

The drunk driver of another vehicle going in the opposite direction crossed the median and struck Deputy Gonzales' patrol car head-on at a high rate of speed. The driver of the other vehicle was also killed.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-8EB19CB7
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.
Deputy Sheriff Gonzales served with the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Lubbock community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Gonzales.

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

Agency

Department Lubbock County Sheriff's Dept.
Location Lubbock, TX
Platform Identity lcso.lubbock.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 25, 1996
Age 35
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved
Offender Killed in crash

Deputy Sheriff Rudy M. Gonzales 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 Lubbock County Sheriff's Dept., 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Lubbock County Sheriff's Dept.
2
of 4 officers
50% 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. Rudy M. Gonzales'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 Rudy M. Gonzales Compares

Age at End of Watch
35
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Killed in crash

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Rudy M. Gonzales is highlighted in Feb.

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. Rudy M. Gonzales was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518