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Incident
Police Officer Christopher Horner was shot and killed while checking on a suspicious car in a cemetery at approximately 6:40 am. He notified dispatch with a description of the vehicle but failed to respond to further communications. Other officers responded to the scene and located his body next to his patrol with a gunshot wound to the head. His murder had remained unsolved for five years until a man in jail on another charge confessed to being involved with it after undergoing a spiritual conversion. Investigators determined that Officer Horner had encountered several men in the cemetery who had robbed a hotel several hours earlier and were planning a bank robbery. He had the four suspects in the car exit at gunpoint; however, a fifth person had already exited the car before Officer Horner's arrival and was in a nearby orange grove. As the fifth suspect exited the orange grove behind Officer Horner, one of the suspects being held at gunpoint distracted him by engaging him in conversation. As Officer Horner backed up toward his patrol car, the fifth suspect attacked him from behind. The other suspects immediately joined in the struggle and disarmed him. One of the suspects yelled to the other to shoot him, and the suspect shot the officer in the back of his head with his own service weapon. The suspects then placed the handgun under his body and fled the scene. The subject who confessed to being involved was originally sentenced to life plus 107 years, but the sentence was later reduced to 15 years for his cooperation in testifying against the other men. The subject who shot Officer Horner was sentenced to life plus 10 years, but the United States Supreme Court later vacated his murder conviction, and prosecutors decided not to retry him for murder. He will be resentenced for his conviction of using a firearm during a crime of violence to kill another person and faces a possible life sentence. Officer Horner had served with the Haines City Police Department for 14
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Police Officer Horner gave the Haines City Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Haines City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Horner.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Haines City Police Department has lost 3 officers; 1 of them killed feloniously.
Christopher is one of 536 officers killed feloniously in FL, 53.3% of the 1,006 remembered there.
Christopher is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Christopher is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1998, 6 officers in FL were killed feloniously, the 22nd heaviest of 143 years on record. The heaviest was 1987, with 10.
In 1998, 78 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 89th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1998, 80 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 92nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Christopher was 35. Of the 496 killed feloniously in FL whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 44.3; the middle age was 36. Christopher had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Christopher was 35. 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. Christopher had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Christopher was 35. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Christopher had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 8.2% of these deaths in FL; April holds the most, 10.1%. Tuesdays: 14.9%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 33.3% of all 3 deaths at Haines City Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 100% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.3% of all 1,006 deaths in FL, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 10.3% 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 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.2% of these deaths.
His people
Haines City Police Department has 3 officers remembered here, Christopher among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 32-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Haines City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
