Constable Edgar Eugene "Isom" Isgitt, aged 39, was shot and killed on June 14, 1911, while attempting to arrest a man in the Harrisburg area of Harris County, Texas. Isgitt, who served as the elected constable of Harrisburg Precinct 2 for four years, was responding to a domestic violence incident where the suspect had allegedly whipped his wife. When Isgitt approached the man on the sidewalk near the Harrisburg Depot, the suspect produced a pistol and shot him.
Isgitt was taken to the
Houston Infirmary, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day. The suspect, identified as Matt Young, was described as a black man and was believed to have fled the scene. Despite an extensive manhunt, Young remained at large for some time. However, a man matching Young's description was later arrested in Sugarland, Texas, but turned out to be the wrong person. The actual suspect, Matt Young, was eventually captured and convicted of second-degree murder, receiving a 20-year prison sentence.
Constable Isgitt was survived by his wife and four daughters, leaving behind a family who deeply mourned his loss. His funeral was held in Harrisburg, and he was laid to rest in Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston, Texas.
Isgitt's death was a tragic event that highlighted the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in the early 20th century. His sacrifice and dedication to his duty are remembered and honored by his family, friends, and fellow officers.
