On August 28, 2008, while attending the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, Special Agent Thomas J. Byrne was severely beaten and mugged while walking to his hotel. After multiple surgeries, he succumbed to his injuries on August 30, 2008.

Special Agent Byrne was born in the Bronx, New York. He graduated from James Madison University in Virginia in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He joined DEA in 1992 as an intelligence specialist assigned to Headquarters in the Financial and Special Intelligence Section. In 1996, he was hired as a DEA special agent through the Washington, DC Field Division and, upon graduation, was assigned to the Miami, Florida Field Division. In 2002, he was reassigned to the Nassau, Bahamas Country Office, where he served for four years. In April 2006, Special Agent Byrne was promoted to group supervisor in the Houston, Texas Field Division, where he served until his death.

Special Agent Byrne was survived by his wife, Maureen; four children, Tommy, Joseph, Matthew, and Michael; his parents, retired DEA Special Agent Thomas and Joan Byrne; and two sisters, Patricia and Joann. Additionally, he had a large extended family, many of whom also work in law enforcement.