Each February, is a time to honor the legacy of one of our local police heroes, who gave his life to protect his community.Here is a Press Release from the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department:
***END OF WATCH FEBRUARY 3, 1977 ***
Lieutenant Ed Worrell was shot and killed when he and Officer Butch Clark arrived on the scene of a burglary in progress at a local discount department store on North Stateline Avenue on February 3rd 1977. Both of the officers were shot in the back as they exited their patrol car. The Burglary of the store involved three teenagers from Elgin, Illinois. The officers were ambushed by one of the juveniles suspects with a high powered deer rifle, who was standing watch in a parking lot while his two juvenile accomplices went inside the store. Two of the suspects were taken into custody inside the department store and the third suspect, the shooter was arrested at a local convenience store about 15 minutes later on North Stateline Avenue.
Lt. Ed Worrell and Ptl. Butch Clark were struck by gunfire. Lieutenant Ed Worrell was fatally wounded. All three juvenile suspects were apprehended by Texarkana, Arkansas Police and charged with capital felony murder. The shooter, John C. Lohbauer was sentenced to life in prison plus 40 years. The two accomplices were each sentenced to 9 years. Lt. Ed Worrell joined TAPD in October of 1970.
Courtesy TAPD-Facebook
We remember Lt. Worrell who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty for the City of Texarkana, Arkansas. A monument sits at Ed Worrell Park in memorial of him.
