Joseph W. "Joe" McKidrict

Texas Rangers — Austin, TX

Felonious

End of Watch April 5, 1894

Age 23

The Vigil Panel 12 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 121

Incident

Private McKidrict was shot and killed by a former Texas Ranger sergeant, Bass Outlaw, who was now a deputy U.S. Marshal. Outlaw created a disturbance at a bordello, and was chasing the madam, who was blowing her whistle to alert police. Private McKidrict and El Paso County Precinct 1 Constable John Selman, Sr., knew Outlaw and tried to calm him down. Private McKidrict asked him why he had shot his gun. Outlaw responded and then shot Private McKidrict in the head and back, killing him instantly.

Outlaw then fired at the constable, nearly striking him in the face. The constable returned fire, striking Outlaw in the chest, mortally wounding him. Outlaw was able to fire one more shot, striking the constable in the leg. Bass Outlaw was buried in the Evergreen Cemetery in El Paso. His tombstone reads: "B. L. Outlaw, 1854-1894, 1st Sgt Co D. F.B., State Forces, Dpy U.S. Marshal."

Constable John Selman, Sr., was put on trial for killing Outlaw, but the judge instructed the jury to find him not guilty. Selman shot and killed the infamous outlaw John Wesley Hardin while he was playing cards in a saloon on August 19, 1895. While awaiting trial for that murder, Selman was shot and killed by Deputy U.S. Marshal George Scarborough on April 5, 1896, two years to the day of the shooting that killed McKidrict and Outlaw.

Private McKidrict was assigned to Company D in El Paso. He was buried in the Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Texas. His tombstone incorrectly states in his age as 32 and year of death as 1893.

Pvt. McKidrict, On today, the 125th 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.

BPA Mike Casey United States Border Patrol El Paso Station April 5th, 2019

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-TX-F9CB46E7
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Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

132 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Private McKidrict 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

Department Texas Rangers

Location Austin, TX

Platform Identity tr.travis.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 5, 1894

Age 23

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Handgun

Offender Shot and killed

Private Joseph W. "Joe" McKidrict 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.

Texas Rangers

104

of 122 officers

85.2% Felonious

TX — Statewide

1,463

of 2,421 officers

60.4% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious