On December 9, 1989, Officer James Charles Boswell, aged 29, was tragically shot and killed in Houston, Texas. Officer Boswell, a male of Caucasian ethnicity, was a dedicated member of the Houston Police Department, having served for five years. He was born on November 29, 1960, in Meridian, Mississippi.
The incident occurred when Officer Boswell and his partner were conducting a routine traffic stop near the intersection of South Main Street and Westridge Street.
A man, later identified as Craig Neil Ogan, approached the officers and began knocking on the car window. Officer Boswell instructed the man to wait on the sidewalk, but Ogan persisted and began banging on the window and roof. Fearing that Ogan would break the glass, Officer Boswell exited the cruiser to address the situation.
As Officer Boswell was unlocking the cruiser door, Ogan pulled out a .38 caliber handgun and shot him in the head at point-blank range. Officer Boswell's partner immediately pursued Ogan, who fled the scene but was eventually apprehended and wounded by a gunshot to the leg. Ogan was later convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. He was executed on November 19, 2002.
Officer Boswell's death was a profound loss for the Houston Police Department and the community. He was survived by his parents, Cecil and Martha Boswell, his sister Cherie, and his three brothers, Michael, Joey, and Kenneth. His funeral services were held in Houston and Meridian, Mississippi, with numerous family members, friends, and colleagues paying their respects.
The tragic death of Officer James Charles Boswell serves as a somber reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in the line of duty. His dedication and sacrifice are honored by the Houston Police Department and remembered by those who knew him.
