Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Walter Stansbury was shot and killed while responding to a domestic disturbance.
The male subject had shot his wife the previous year and was known by the police as a desperate character. Around 11:00 a.m., neighbors called the police about a family disturbance at the man's house. When an officer arrived, the man shot at him with a Winchester rifle. The officer retreated to safety and waited for more officers to arrive. Officer Walter Stansbury lived nearby and responded to the shooting. As he approached the house, the man shot the officer once in the chest, mortally wounding him.
Officer Stansbury was taken to the hospital and died at 4:50 p.m.
The man fled the scene but was located later by the sheriff and a deputy on horseback. He refused to surrender, so the sheriff developed a ruse and told him that the officer was not seriously wounded and that the man could make bail if he returned to town. The sheriff and deputy rode in front of the man who remained armed. The man stopped along the way at a saloon and had four shots of whiskey. As the parties entered downtown, a crowd had gathered. The man allegedly aimed his gun at the sheriff as the sheriff tried to get behind him. The sheriff then shot him in the right arm and caused him to be unable to effectively operate his rifle. Allegedly, the sheriff fired five times, and the man fired four times.
The man fled down a city street with a crowd of citizens firing at him. He fell mortally wounded, and several people in the crowd fired more rounds into his body.
Officer Stansbury had served with the Beaumont Police Department for two years.
He was buried in the Magnolia Cemetery. The police force raised the funds to place a marker on his grave.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-A7D18878- 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.
Officer Stansbury gave the Beaumont Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Beaumont community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Stansbury.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Walter W. Stansbury 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 Beaumont Police Department, 9 of 21 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 42.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Walter W. Stansbury's cause is highlighted.
How Walter W. Stansbury Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Walter W. Stansbury is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Walter W. Stansbury was killed by rifle; winchester.
Others Who Wore This Badge
20 officers from Beaumont Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
