On October 12, 1999, Terry Wayne Miller, a 37-year-old male Highway Patrol Trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety, was tragically shot and killed while responding to a phony 911 call near Pleasanton, Atascosa County, Texas. Trooper Miller was backing up two sheriff's deputies who had responded to the call. Upon arrival, he discovered that the deputies had already been shot and killed by a sniper lying in ambush.
Trooper Miller radioed for backup but was also shot and killed by the sniper. The gunman, identified as 21-year-old Jeremiah Engleton, shot himself after the attack.
In the aftermath of the ambush, Kenneth Vodochodsky, a 19-year-old accomplice who helped Engleton plan and carry out the attack, was arrested and initially sentenced to death. However, his conviction was later overturned on appeal, and he was sentenced to 30 years in prison under a plea agreement.
Trooper Miller is survived by his wife, Karen, and two daughters, Amanda and Ashley . His death marked the 218th DPS officer to be killed in the line of duty. The portion of Interstate Highway 37 in Atascosa County between mile marker 102 and mile marker 115 is designated as the Trooper Terry Wayne Miller Memorial Highway in his honor.
This tragic incident highlights the dangers law enforcement officers face daily and serves as a somber reminder of the sacrifices made by those who serve and protect.
