Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Joel Reed was shot and killed while confronting a subject who had murdered the former county sheriff during a personal dispute.
The former sheriff was engaged in a divorce proceeding and his killer was his brother-in-law. The former sheriff was walking down the street, in Knox City, when a car pulled over. The subject stepped from the car with a Winchester rifle in hand and shot him in the back.
After he fell, the man drew a handgun, stood over him, and and continued to fire. After firing several shots, Deputy Sheriff Joel Reed and the Knox City marshal ran to the scene and tried to apprehend the man. The man opened fire on the officers, striking Deputy Reed three times and killing him. The man escaped from the scene but was later captured.
The subject who murdered Deputy Reed was killed the following year in a Knox County courtroom by the former sheriff's brother. The judge in the case and a trial witness were also wounded.
Deputy Sheriff Reed is buried at Long Branch Cemetery in Carbon, Texas.
After he fell, the man drew a handgun, stood over him, and and continued to fire. After firing several shots, Deputy Sheriff Joel Reed and the Knox City marshal ran to the scene and tried to apprehend the man. The man opened fire on the officers, striking Deputy Reed three times and killing him. The man escaped from the scene but was later captured.
Thank you for your sacrifice. May you rest in peace.
Anonymous Anonymous August 21st, 2022
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-AB000E9D- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Joel. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Reed served with the Knox County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Benjamin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Reed.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Joel Baylor Reed 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. Joel Baylor Reed's cause is highlighted.
How Joel Baylor Reed Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joel Baylor Reed is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joel Baylor Reed was killed by handgun.