Incident
Private John Dier was shot and killed when his Texas Ranger company was ambushed by Indians in Sabinal Canyon near present-day Utopia, Texas.
He was standing guard at the camp when he was shot in the chest and killed as Indians ambushed the company.
Private Dier had served with the Texas Rangers for only five months.
Pvt. Dier, On today, the 175th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of the state of Texas.
R.I.P. USBP
Anonymous United States Border Patrol November 12th, 2023
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-E2977069- 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
178 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Private Dier served with the Texas Rangers.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Private John Wesley Dier 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 Texas Rangers, 104 of 122 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Wesley Dier's cause is highlighted.
How John Wesley Dier Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Wesley Dier is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Wesley Dier was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
121 officers from Texas Rangers are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.





