1921

June 27, 1921
Gunfire –1508 George Street

DOB – 08/31/1884, Age 36
Badge –
Final Resting Place –Oak Lawn, Rockdale , TX

Officer Murdock and Officer McGraw answered a call to the 1500 block of George Street, where there had been a shooting and the suspect had barricaded himself in the house. When the officers arrived on the scene, it was said they were met with a fusillade of shots from the inside of the house. One of these shots struck Officer Murdock and he fell. He had been shot through the jaw. Other officers were sent to the scene and upon entering the house they found the body of a woman lying on the floor of the kitchen. The suspect surrendered upon seeing the officers.

The suspect, Will Alexander, was taken to the county jail by Sheriff Binford, Deputy Sheriff Rogers, and Investigator George Andrews of the district attorney's office. He was charged with murdering Edna Phelps and with assault to murder Officer Murdock.

Murdock was taken to St. Joseph Infirmary in a police car and was believed not to be seriously hurt; however, five days later, on Tuesday, June 27, 1921, he died. Officer Murdock had received a fractured jaw from the gun shot, which necessitated an operation to relieve the intense pain. According to the doctors, he died from dilation of the heart caused by the anesthetic. Officer Murdock had been with the Houston Police Department since October, 1920. Before joining the police department, he was a state convict guard.

Source – Houston Police Department Museum Files