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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Louis “Slim” May, Deputy Constable Leslie Eugene “Bill” Shaw, and four other lawmen were detailed to keep peace around Mexican dances. Between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, a shot was fired near where one of the dances had been. The six lawmen split up and went to investigate the shooting. They had not gone very far when one lawman told Mays and Shaw he saw a gun pointed them. Soon after the shooting started, Deputy Constable Shaw was shot between the eyes and died instantly. Deputy Sheriff May was shot in the heart and died. The other lawman was slightly wounded in the stomach.
Local officers theorized that the first shots were fired in order to lure the officers to their death for retaliation for previous arrest the officers had made. Sheriff Teller and his deputies rounded up 20-24 persons who were in and around the area and placed them in jail for questioning.
On Tuesday, September 7, the father of Jose Nuñez, (one of the suspects in the shooting) was allowed to talk with his son at the jail. Shortly afterwards, the father told the sheriff his son confessed and would assist in locating the weapons that were used to kill Mays and Shaw.
Later that afternoon, five deputies took Jose and Delancio Nuñez, Cinco Gonzalez, Matt Zaller, and Tomas Nuñez from the jail to a brushy area eight miles west of Raymondville, where Jose Nunez pointed out to the deputies where they would find the weapons. The deputies and prisoners entered into the brush, where the deputies alleged they were met with gunfire. The deputies allegedly ducked and return fire, killing all five prisoners in the crossfire.
The Nuñez Family made claims to the Mexican Consul General, that the body of Tomas Nuñez had been beheaded. The governor ordered the Texas Rangers to investigate the shooting of the prisoners at the request of the U.S. State Department. The beheading rumors later turned out to be false.
The Mexican Consul General also accused Sheriff Teller of letting a mob into the jail and taking the five prisoners out and shooting them. Later, a Willacy County Grand Jury investigated the case and indicted Sheriff Teller and others with the murders. The sheriff was tried in 1927 as an accessory to the murders and was acquitted.
The true motive for the death of two lawmen will never be known.
Louis May was just 20 years of age at the time of his death. He was survived by his parents, A.A. and Lois N. May and a sister, Josephine May. He was buried in Raymondville in Willacy County in close proximity to Deputy Constable Leslie Eugene Shaw. He was not married.
The Nuñez Family made claims to the Mexican Consul General, that the body of Tomas Nuñez had been beheaded. The governor ordered the Texas Rangers to investigate the shooting of the prisoners at the request of the U.S. State Department. The beheading rumors later turned out to be false.
Louis May was just 20 years of age at the time of his death. He was survived by his parents, A.A. and Lois N. May and a sister, Josephine May. He was buried in Raymondville in Willacy County in close proximity to Deputy Constable Leslie Eugene Shaw. He was not married.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents, A.
In Our Keeping
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff May served with the Willacy County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Raymondville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff May.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Willacy County Sheriff's Office has lost 2 officers; 1 of them killed feloniously.
Louis is one of 1,461 officers killed feloniously in TX, 60.3% of the 2,422 remembered there.
Louis is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Louis 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 1926, 13 officers in TX were killed feloniously, the 22nd heaviest of 180 years on record. The heaviest was 1928, with 19.
In 1926, 209 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1926, 209 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 12th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Louis was 20. Of the 1,330 killed feloniously in TX whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 37.
Louis was 20. 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.
Louis was 20. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
September holds 9% of these deaths in TX; December holds the most, 10.4%. Sundays: 16.2%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
September holds 8.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 50% of all 2 deaths at Willacy County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was unknown weapon, 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 unknown weapon, in 4.4% 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 unknown weapon, in 0.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was unknown weapon, in 0.4% of these deaths.
His people
Willacy County Sheriff's Office has 2 officers remembered here, Louis among them.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 64-W
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Willacy County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
