Elwood E. Groff, a 56-year-old white male, was a Deputy Sheriff with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office in San Antonio, Texas. On the night of October 15, 1979, Groff was working off-duty as a security officer at the apartment complex where he lived on Midcrown Road. He responded to a report of a disturbance at one of the units and met with San Antonio police officers at the scene. After determining that the suspect had left, Groff assured the officers that he would handle the situation. However, after the officers departed, the suspect returned and shot Groff in the chest, killing him instantly. The suspect then proceeded to shoot and kill his girlfriend's grandmother, wound his girlfriend, and subsequently commit suicide.
Groff was a decorated military veteran, having served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He was a recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. At the time of his death, Groff had served with the Bexar County Sheriff's Department for 11 years. He was survived by his daughter, six sons, and his parents.
The investigation into Groff's death revealed that the suspect had a history of violent behavior and had been involved in a domestic dispute with his girlfriend prior to the incident. The suspect's actions on the night of October 15, 1979, were driven by a combination of personal grievances and mental instability. The case was closed following the suspect's suicide, and no further arrests or litigations were pursued in connection with Groff's murder.
