This Military Service Page was created/owned by
OFF Joe Pena (N138)
to remember
Nava Jr., Henry Hank, OFF.
If you knew or served with this Officer and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Officer Henry Nava died of a gunshot wound he received two days earlier when he attempted to arrest a man on a warrant.
Officer Nava and two other officers went to the suspect's mobile home to arrest him on a parole violation warrant . The officers were invited inside the residence by a female who resided there. The female gave the officers verbal consent to enter and search for the suspect after stating to them that the suspect was not at the location. As the Officers entered she alerted the suspect by stating loudly "the police are here and are going to search the house." As Officer Nava opened a bedroom door, the suspect emerged with a 9mm handgun and shot Officer Nava in the head, just above the left eye.
After shooting Officer Nava, the suspect fled to a nearby home where he took the female resident hostage for two hours, before releasing her and surrendering to police.
Officer Nava was taken to Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital where he died two days later from his wound.
The suspect was convicted of capital murder on November 13, 2007.
Officer Nava had served with the Fort Worth Police Department for 14 years, and had previously served with the Austin Park Police Department for 3 years and the Plano Police Department for 1 year.
Officer Nava is survived by his wife, daughter, and son. On November 10, 2011, Officer Nava's 10-year-old son legally changed his name to Henry Nava III in his honor.
