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Edwyn Joseph Gorrell
Agency patch
Patrolman

Edwyn Joseph Gorrell

San Antonio Police Department — San Antonio, TX
Felonious
United States flag Texas flag
End of Watch July 5, 1988
Age 34
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Badge 47
The Vigil Panel 133 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 63

Incident

Patrolman Edwyn Gorrell succumbed to gunshot wounds received on February 22, 1988, when he was shot during an arrest attempt. While arresting a man at the 600 block of Navarro Street in San Antonio around 6:30 p.m., a struggle ensued. During the struggle, his weapon fell to the ground. Another officer witnessed the struggle and attempted to intervene when the man grabbed Patrolman Gorrell's gun and shot Patrolman Gorrell in the head. He then shot the other officer in the shoulder before fleeing. The suspect took six people hostage at the Travis Park Building before surrendering three hours later. Patrolman Gorrell remained in a coma at the Brooke Army Medical Center until passing away over four months later. The other officer survived his wounds. The suspect was convicted of murder with a deadly weapon and sentenced to life. He was denied parole in 2023. Patrolman Gorrell's brother had been shot in the line of duty as a trooper with the Texas Highway Patrol and survived his wounds. Patrolman Gorrell had served with the San Antonio Police Department for two years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, daughter, and son.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Gorrell gave the San Antonio Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Antonio community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Gorrell.

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

Agency

Department San Antonio Police Department
Type Other
Location San Antonio, Bexar County, TX
Platform Identity sapd.bexar.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 5, 1988
Tour of Duty 2 yrs
Age 34
Badge Number 47
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Edwyn is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1988, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Edwyn was 34. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Edwyn had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

San Antonio Police Department has 64 officers remembered here, Edwyn among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Patrolman Edwyn Joseph Gorrell

San Antonio Police Department · End of Watch July 5, 1988

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 22-E

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