In the early morning hours in the town of Ajo, Arizona, on January 21, 1913, Deputy Sheriff Joe W. Meeks, a 39-year-old male, was awakened from his sleep. He was called to duty at 2:00 a.m. to address a disturbance caused by a man named Calistro Villareal and his associates.
While investigating the incident and questioning an individual in the vicinity, Deputy Meeks was ambushed by Villareal, who fired two shots.
One of the bullets struck Deputy Meeks in the face and passed through his head. He succumbed to the fatal injury a short time later.
Following the shooting, Calistro Villareal fled the scene on foot, heading south toward Mexico. Pima County Sheriff John Nelson formed a posse and pursued Villareal into Mexico. However, their efforts to apprehend the suspect were thwarted when Mexican authorities declined to assist in the search. The posse returned empty-handed, and there is no record to indicate that Calistro Villareal was ever brought to justice for the death of Deputy Sheriff Meeks.
