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Incident
Patrolman Pete Woods was shot and killed by an escaped convict that was a passenger in a vehicle that area police were searching for following a robbery in Mount Pleasant. He located and stopped the vehicle approximately one block from the county courthouse. During a struggle the suspect grabbed his gun, shot him, and another officer in the chest before being subdued. The other officer recovered. The killer, 27, was arrested hours later, along with another man, 38, and a woman, 18, by officers in Shreveport, Louisiana. The killer was a Louisiana prison inmate who escaped from a New Orleans hospital nine days earlier. On July 19, 1965, he was convicted of murder, attempted murder, and sentenced to 134 years. As he left the court room he was smiling and winking at women spectators. He was returned to Angola Prison in Louisiana to finish a term for armed robbery before being returned to Texas. He and the woman still faced two armed robbery charges in Louisiana and two in Texas. On February 17, 1967, the suspect escaped from the same New Orleans hospital where he was being treated for an ear infection. He was quickly captured. On March 28, 1975, he along with four other inmates escaped from the Smith County Jail in Tyler Texas. On June 24, 1975, he was captured in Jasper after police surprised him in a closed drug store. He died in prison on March 26, 2010. Patrolman Woods had served with the Carthage Police Department for six years.
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 Woods gave the Carthage Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Carthage community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Woods.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Carthage Police Department has lost 2 officers; 1 of them killed feloniously.
Pete is one of 1,461 officers killed feloniously in TX, 60.3% of the 2,422 remembered there.
Pete is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Pete is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1964, 5 officers in TX were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 180 years on record. The heaviest was 1928, with 19.
In 1964, 75 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 94th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1964, 76 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 99th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Pete was 50. Of the 1,330 killed feloniously in TX whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 37. Pete had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Pete was 50. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Pete had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Pete was 50. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Pete had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 10.4% of these deaths in TX, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.6%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.3%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 50% of all 2 deaths at Carthage Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 100% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 60.3% of all 2,422 deaths in TX, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.9% of these deaths.
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.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.2% of these deaths.
His people
Carthage Police Department has 2 officers remembered here, Pete among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 5-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Carthage Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
