In the quiet town of Bowie, Arizona, on December 6, 1969, the life of a dedicated lawman was tragically cut short. Deputy Sheriff Leroy Dale Brown, a 38-year-old White / Caucasian male, was off-duty and dining in a local restaurant. A man named Andres Griego, 20 years old, entered the establishment, ordered a cup of coffee, and walked over to where Deputy Brown was seated.
Without any warning, Griego threw the hot coffee in Deputy Brown's face. As the deputy stood up, Griego pulled a.
25 caliber automatic pistol from a paper bag and shot him in the face. Witnesses reported that Griego fired at least one more shot, and possibly a third, before fleeing the scene. The violent encounter sent shockwaves through the small community, leaving friends and fellow officers in disbelief.
Prior to this fatal confrontation, Griego had a history with law enforcement. He had been arrested in August of that year for disturbing the peace and had served a 30-day jail sentence. Following his release, he reportedly made threats against Deputy Brown and two other deputies. Despite these threats, Griego had not been seen in Bowie until the day of the shooting.
After the shooting, Griego was found deceased in a nearby schoolyard from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Deputy Brown, who had served with the Cochise County Sheriff's Department, was a veteran of the United States Navy, having served during the Korean Conflict. He was survived by his wife and two sons and was laid to rest at the Bowie Desert Rest Cemetery.
