Lorenzo Lawman Succumbs To Wounds After Shootout
Lawman Dies of Wounds
LORENZO (Special) — Police Chief Bill Jones, 41, died at Lubbock General Hospital late Saturday morning after being wounded in a shooting incident Thursday that had already left two men dead.
Jones, police chief here seven years, was shot Thursday morning while answering a disturbance related call at the residence of Vidal Samarripas, 65, of Lorenzo.
Samarripas allegedly shot and fatally wounded his son-in-law, Pedro Clemente Chavez, 41, as Chavez sat in a car in front of Samarripas' home. Chavez was able to drive a short distance from the home before dying.
The police chief was wounded as he approached the Samarripas' residence. After shooting Jones, Samarripas put a pistol in his mouth and shot himself, according to Justice of the Peace Jim Scott Travis.
A 38-caliber pistol apparently was used in the shooting accident.
Lorenzo City Administrator Leon Moore said the City Council likely will have a special meeting this week to consider what actions need to be taken to continue law enforcement in the town. In the interim Moore said Crosby County sheriff deputy Jimmy Isabell will assume acting police chief duties in the town.
"He was a good law enforcement officer," Moore said of Jones. Moore said disturbance calls had been frequent to the Samarripas residence. "No telling how many times he had been called to this one residence. It was kind of a routine thing." Moore said.
Mayor Don Nickson said a fund for the Jones family will be established at Lorenzo State Bank. "He was a good policeman and a good citizen for the community." Nickson said.
Lorenzo councilman Joe Darden said the police chief was well liked, especially with the town's younger people.
Jones formerly served as a policeman in Ralls and a deputy with the Crosby County Sheriff's Department.
Burial will be in Lorenzo Cemetery under direction of Carter-Adams Funeral Home in Ralls.
He as born in Cooper. He married Joyce Overstreet October 5, 1967 in Paducah, Texas. He was a Mason and was a director of the Caprock Peace Officers Association.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, D'Lisa of Lorenzo two brothers, Tom of Boston and James of Lorenzo; and a sister, Ester McAllister of North Carolina.
Pallbearers will be Kenneth Witt, Jerry Robertson, L.T. Starkey, Bill Nelson, Wendell Fullingim, Roger Cypert, Mike Majors and Mark Majors.
Lubbock Avalanche Journal, March 1985
Record provided by Crosby County Pioneer Memorial Museum
transcribed by Linda Fox Hughes
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