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Mansel Ross Burrell
Incident
Special Agent Mansel Burrell was shot and killed by drug traffickers while working an undercover heroin investigation in Gary, Indiana. At 8:30 pm, another agent and two Gary police officers observed Agent Burrell enter the suspect's apartment. About 45 minutes later, Agent Burrell left the premises in his government-issued vehicle with the suspect and a male subject following in their vehicle. The other agent followed both vehicles, lost them in traffic, but found Agent Burrell's vehicle parked in an alley near the suspect's apartment 15 minutes later. After surveilling Agent Burrell's vehicle for two hours, the other subject was observed entering the vehicle and drive away. Within blocks, the car was stopped and while searching the subject, marked currency was found that had been carried by Agent Burrell. The suspect was arrested, taken to the Gary police station and, after over four hours, told officers interrogating him that the other suspect shot Agent Burrell four times in the head in a wooded area of Gary, before dumping his body in Illinois. Agent Burrell's body was found, at 7:55 am, in a cornfield one-half mile south of U.S. 30 in Bloom Township in Cook County, after the suspect agreed to direct officers to the location. The shooter pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison, where he later died. The other suspect, a half-brother to the shooter, was convicted of second-degree murder, but on appeal his conviction was reversed. Agent Burrell had served with the Bureau of Narcotics for 15 months and was assigned to the Chicago Division. He was the youngest federal narcotics agent to be killed in the line of duty.
Survivors
Agent Burrell was survived by his parents, brother and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Special Agent Burrell gave the United States Department of the Treasury 1 year.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Burrell.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
United States Department of the Treasury - Bureau of Narcotics has lost 6 officers; 4 of them killed feloniously.
Mansel is one of 1,461 officers killed feloniously in TX, 60.3% of the 2,422 remembered there.
Mansel is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Mansel 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 1967, 5 officers in TX were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 180 years on record. The heaviest was 1928, with 19.
In 1967, 105 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 48th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1967, 107 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 56th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Mansel was 23. Of the 1,330 killed feloniously in TX whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 37. Mansel had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Mansel was 23. 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. Mansel had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Mansel was 23. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Mansel had served 1.2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 10.4% of these deaths in TX, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 11.2%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 66.7% of all 6 deaths at United States Department of the Treasury - Bureau of Narcotics, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 75% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 60.3% of all 2,422 deaths in TX, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 14.2% 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
United States Department of the Treasury - Bureau of Narcotics has 6 officers remembered here, Mansel among them.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 27-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from United States Department of the Treasury - Bureau of Narcotics are honored on badge.nw.
