Street Names Honor El Paso Police Officers Killed, Wounded In 1957 Gunfight

A gun fight in 1957 took the life of one El Paso police officer and wounded another badly enough that he had to retire. Today, 2 El Paso street names honor those officers.

East siders in the Montwood - Saul Kleinfeld area are familiar with Gus Moran street and those in central, near Paisano and I-10, know Willie Sanchez Ln. Sanchez was also honored with a plaque at the Chelsea Senior Citizens Apartments.

It all started with a grocery store holdup on Pershing and ended at a drive in movie theater on Chelsea.

The 2 robbers parked their car at the drive-in to let things cool off but it was seen by 2 El Paso Police detectives, Det. Willie Sanchez and Det. T.I. Brand Jr.. They radioed for help, (call answered by A. F. (Gus) Moran and A.H. Woodley Jr.), then busted the two crooks.

Even though they were handcuffed together in the backseat of a police car, they tried to make a break for it. When Det. Brand tried to stop them, they somehow got his gun and started firing.

READ MORE: 9-11 Hero Honored By This El Paso Street

Sanchez was killed and Moran was shot 3 times but "emptied his gun", killing one of the robbers while his partner, Woodley Jr., got the other one. Ironically, the movies showing that night were "'The Girl He Left Behind' ... Det. Sanchez left behind a young and pregnant wife ... along with 'You Can't Run Away From It.'

No, the bad guys couldn't.

The two hold-up men, sprawled grotesque in the parking area, bore mute and bloody testimony that they could not evade justice. - EPTimes