Larry Sherwood Kolb, a 40-year-old white male, tragically lost his life on October 2, 1999, in Kendall County, Texas. Deputy Sheriff Kolb was ambushed and fatally shot while responding to a shots fired call at the Shady Rest Mobile Home Park near Boerne. Despite being off duty and en route home after his shift, he responded to the call as he was the closest deputy to the scene.
Upon approaching the residence and identifying himself as a deputy, Kolb was shot in the neck and chest by the suspect, who was armed with an AK-47. Unfortunately, Kolb was not wearing a bulletproof vest at the time of the incident.
The suspect, who was hiding under a trailer, continued to fire at other officers who arrived at the scene. The officers returned fire, ultimately killing the suspect. Deputy Kolb had served with the Kendall County Sheriff's Office for three years and had a total of 22 years of law enforcement experience, having previously served with the Lago Vista Police Department and the Austin Independent School District Police Department. He is survived by his wife and two young sons.
The investigation into Deputy Kolb's death revealed that the suspect was an illegal alien from Central America who had been arrested by another officer for an unrelated crime three months prior to the incident. The suspect's motive for the ambush remains unclear, but the tragic event highlighted the dangers faced by law enforcement officers and the importance of wearing protective gear while on duty.
