Jerry Don Davis, a 25-year-old male, tragically lost his life on October 5, 1980, in Austin, Texas. Davis was a dedicated trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety - Texas Highway Patrol, having served for just under two years. His life was cut short when he was shot and killed after stopping a vehicle for a traffic violation on U.S. 84 near Slaton.
Unaware that the vehicle was stolen, Trooper Davis pulled over the car for speeding.
He called in the vehicle's license plate, but when he did not respond to the dispatcher, a patrol unit found him slumped over his steering wheel. Davis had been shot once in the head and was holding the 21-year-old suspect's driver's license in his hand. The suspect was apprehended two days later in Liberal, Kansas.
The suspect was convicted of capital murder on February 20, 1981, and sentenced to life in prison. He was denied parole on November 23, 2021, and again in 2024, with his next parole hearing scheduled for January 2028. Davis's killer remains incarcerated, and there have been no further developments in the case since then.
Trooper Davis was remembered fondly by his colleagues and community for his dedication and kindness. His death was a stark reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face daily. Despite the tragedy, his legacy lives on through the memories of those who knew him and the impact he made during his short career.
