Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Encarnacion Cuellar and Deputy Constable Pablo Falcon were shot and killed when they were ambushed by six men at a dance hall three miles from Brownsville, Texas.
The ambush occurred shortly before midnight. Despite being wounded, Deputy Cuellar was able to return fire and fatally wounded one of the men, who later died after fleeing to Mexico. It is not known if any other suspects were ever arrested and tried.
It is believed that the law officers had arrested some of the men the previous week and were targeted in retaliation for the arrest.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-DE12F8C7- 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 Cuellar served with the Cameron County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Olmito community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Cuellar.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Encarnacion Cuellar 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 Cameron County Sheriff's Office, 12 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 92.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Encarnacion Cuellar's cause is highlighted.
How Encarnacion Cuellar Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Encarnacion Cuellar is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Encarnacion Cuellar was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Cameron County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
