Alexander Sanderlieb Kirpnick
Incident
Border Patrol Agent Alexander Kirpnick was shot and killed as he and his partner attempted to arrest five drug smugglers approximately two miles north of the Mexican border in Arizona. Agent Kirpnick had subdued two of the suspects and his partner was attempting to subdue the other three when one of the men shot Agent Kirpnick in the head. He was flown to a local hospital but died at approximately 4:00 am. All of the suspects were eventually apprehended. The suspect who murdered Agent Kirpnick was arrested in Mexico and extradited to the United States where he was tried for the murder. He was found guilty and sentenced to two consecutive life terms. Agent Kirpnick immigrated to the United States in 1988 from Russia and became a citizen in 1995 before joining the United States Border Patrol in 1996.
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- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Border Patrol Agent Kirpnick gave the United States Department of Justice 2 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Border Patrol Agent Kirpnick.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol has lost 68 officers; 15 of them killed feloniously.
Alexander is one of 754 officers killed feloniously in DC, 53.1% of the 1,419 remembered there.
Alexander is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Alexander 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, 3 officers at United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1998, 6 officers in DC were killed feloniously, the 37th heaviest of 159 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 20.
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
Alexander was 27. Of the 15 killed feloniously at United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol whose age is recorded, half were between 24.5 and 34.5; the middle age was 27. Alexander had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 2 years.
Alexander was 27. Of the 580 killed feloniously in DC whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 36. Alexander had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Alexander was 27. 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. Alexander had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Alexander was 27. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Alexander had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
June holds 26.7% of these deaths at United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 13.3%.
June holds 6.4% of these deaths in DC; July holds the most, 11.7%. Wednesdays: 15.4%.
June holds 8.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
June holds 8.2% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 22.1% of all 68 deaths at United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 26.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53.1% of all 1,419 deaths in DC, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 19.6% 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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol has 68 officers remembered here, Alexander among them.
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George E. Pringle
Dec 28, 1940
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Robert James Heibler
Sep 7, 1941
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Ralph W. Ramsey
Feb 26, 1942
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Garvis Feild Harrell
Apr 24, 1944
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Earl F. Fleckiger
Jun 23, 1945
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Ned D. Henderson
Nov 18, 1945
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Anthony L. Oneto
Mar 11, 1947
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Michael T. Box
Aug 29, 1950
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Richard David Clarke
Dec 18, 1950
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Edwin H. Wheeler
Jul 6, 1952
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William Franklin Buckelew
Jul 23, 1954
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Donald Kee
Jul 23, 1954
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James Martin Kirchner
Nov 15, 1954
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James M. Carter
Jun 6, 1956
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Douglas Carter Shute
Jun 6, 1956
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John A. Rector
Oct 16, 1956
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Archie L. Jennings
Apr 16, 1960
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Kenneth Leroy Carl
Jun 18, 1961
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Richard A. Lugo
May 14, 1967
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George F. Azrak
Jun 17, 1967
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Theodore L. Newton, Jr.
Jun 17, 1967
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Elgar B. Holliday
Oct 18, 1967
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Ralph L. Anderson
Oct 25, 1968
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James G. Burns
Dec 8, 1968
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Henley M. Goode, Jr.
Oct 11, 1969
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John S. Blue
Oct 4, 1973
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Friedrich Karl
Oct 4, 1973
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Edwin Curtis Dennis
Feb 4, 1974
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Lee L. Bounds
Mar 29, 1974
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Glenn A. Phillips
Jul 8, 1974
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Oscar Trevino Torres
Nov 30, 1974
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Jose Paz Gamez, Jr.
Apr 21, 1978
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Weldon Smith
Oct 19, 1979
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Victor Contreras Ochoa
Mar 11, 1983
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Thomas Kent Byrd
Nov 21, 1983
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Manuel Salcido, Jr.
Jan 2, 1985
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Lester Lee Haynie
Jun 14, 1985
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Norman Ray Salinas
Aug 4, 1986
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John Robert McCravey
Feb 23, 1987
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Josiah Blaine Mahar
Sep 23, 1988
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David Franklin Roberson
Jul 14, 1989
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Keith Connelly
Sep 6, 1989
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John Donald Keenan
Nov 27, 1989
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Louis Deitrich Stahl
Jun 13, 1992
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Jose Angel Nava
Jan 7, 1995
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Luis A. Santiago
Mar 28, 1995
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Xavier Guadalupe Magdaleno
May 10, 1995
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Lawrence B. Pierce, Jr.
Aug 17, 1995
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Jefferson L. Barr
Jan 19, 1996
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Aurelio Esparz Valencia
Jan 26, 1996
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Michael Wayne Barnes
Dec 12, 1996
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Miguel Javier Maldonado
Mar 10, 1997
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Stephen Clay Starch
Jun 14, 1997
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Alexander Sanderlieb Kirpnick
Jun 3, 1998
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Susan Lynn Rodriguez
Jul 7, 1998
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Ricardo Guillermo Salinas
Jul 7, 1998
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Thomas J. Williams
Oct 20, 1998
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Jesus A. de la Ossa
Oct 20, 1998
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Walter Scott Panchison
Oct 23, 1998
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Rene B. Garza
Jan 20, 1999
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Stephen Michael Sullivan
Mar 27, 1999
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John Charles Gigax
Nov 7, 1999
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Daniel Miles James, Jr.
Mar 3, 2001
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Jason Christopher Panides
Apr 4, 2001
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Eloy Hernandez
Jan 16, 2002
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Roberto Javier Duran
May 6, 2002
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Catherine Mary Hill
Oct 25, 2002
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Trena Renee McLaughlin
Sep 14, 2009
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
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