Timothy Joe Irwin

How they died

Deadly force

Seventy percent disabled by a service-related injury and estranged from his wife, Navy veteran Irwin parked a blue camper in a Wal-Mart parking lot and left it running overnight. Sergeant Gregory Hunter and Officer Bruce Seix went to investigate. Irwin shot at the officers through the windshield of the camper, striking Officer Seix, 44, above and below his bullet-resistant vest, and killing Sergeant Hunter. Officer Seix shot back at Irwin. A standoff began. Irwin did not respond to negotiators. Six hours later, he was found already dead in the camper, which contained knives, guns and a pipe bomb. Irwin had marijuana and antidepressants in his system. Sergeant Hunter, who had received 31 commendations, became Grand Prairie's first black officer in 1973.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Timothy Joe Irwin, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources