Leon Griggs
Agency patch
Police Officer

Leon Griggs

Houston Police Department — Houston, TX
Felonious
End of Watch January 31, 1970
Age 41
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Badge 1018
The Vigil Panel 106 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Leon Griggs was shot and killed during a robbery while working an off-duty assignment at a grocery store. in the 2600 block of Blodgett Street. Two men entered the store and one of them grabbed Officer Griggs' arm while the other shot him in the back several times. After he fell to the ground one of the men took his duty weapon and shot him three more times. One of the subjects was apprehended, convicted, but later paroled. The second subject was later shot and killed by police officers in Atlanta, Georgia. The paroled subject was later sent to prison again. Officer Griggs had served with the Houston Police Department for 14 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and five children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-BFE8DF50
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.
Police Officer Griggs gave the Houston Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Griggs.

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

Agency

Location Houston, TX
Platform Identity hpd.harris.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 31, 1970
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Age 41
Badge Number 1018
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender One later shot and killed

Police Officer Leon Griggs 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 Houston Police Department, 84 of 117 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.8% of this agency's fallen.

Houston Police Department
84
of 117 officers
71.8% 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. Leon Griggs'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 Leon Griggs Compares

Age at End of Watch
41
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
14
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

One later shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Leon Griggs is highlighted in Jan.

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. Leon Griggs was killed by gun; unknown type.

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

Incident Location