Ralph Allen Ablanedo, a 26-year-old white male police officer, was killed on May 18, 1978, in Austin, Texas, during a routine traffic stop in the 900 block of East Live Oak Street. After ticketing the driver, Sheila Meinert, for driving without a license, Ablanedo went to run a check on the male passenger, David Lee Powell. Powell opened fire with a fully automatic AK-47 rifle, penetrating the officer’s bulletproof vest; Ablanedo managed to give a description of the car before losing consciousness and dying of his wounds.

Powell fled but was captured a few hours later at Travis High School after a manhunt. He had also fired at a second officer and tossed a hand grenade that failed to explode. Sheila Meinert surrendered to authorities. Powell was later convicted of murder and sentenced to death; his execution was carried out on June 15, 2010. About 150 current and former Austin police officers attended as an honor guard for Ablanedo’s family.