Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Tim Abernethy was shot and killed during a foot pursuit of a suspect who fled following a traffic stop.
Officer Abernethy had lost sight of the man as he chased him around a building in an apartment complex. After going around the corner the man hid behind a gate and then shot the officer twice in the torso and then walked around the officer and shot him in the head.
The officer was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds a short time later.
The suspect was arrested a short time later by deputies from the Harris County Sheriff's Department. He was found guilty of the murder on April 6, 2010 and was sentenced to death.
Officer Abernethy had served with the Houston Police Department for 11 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, and siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-E32AE050- 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 Abernethy gave the Houston Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Abernethy.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Timothy Scott Abernethy 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Timothy Scott Abernethy's cause is highlighted.
How Timothy Scott Abernethy Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Timothy Scott Abernethy is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Timothy Scott Abernethy was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
116 officers from Houston Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
