Jose Gerardo Herrera, known as Curly, was a 22-year-old jailer with the Webb County Sheriff’s Department when he was shot and killed on February 3, 1986. He was unarmed and was about to take an incarcerated man to make a phone call when the prisoner produced a gun and shot Herrera in the head. Herrera was taken to a local hospital and died early the next morning.

The prisoner was quickly subdued by the Laredo Police Department SWAT team, later convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death; he died of cancer while awaiting execution. Herrera had served four years with the department and was remembered by family, friends, and colleagues for his dedication. The Webb County Sheriff’s Office has held memorial ceremonies on anniversaries of his death.