Patrolman James Alfano, Jr., Chicago Police Department, Illinois

Patrolman James Alfano, Jr.

Chicago Police Department, Illinois

End of Watch Sunday, August 16, 1970

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James Alfano, Jr.

Patrolman James Alfano was shot and killed while investigating a report of a gang fight that was about to take place.

He was driving through an alley between 66th Place and 67th Street near Stony Island Avenue but was blocked by an obstruction in the roadway. As his vehicle was stopped, a sniper opened fire on him, fatally wounding him.

Seven suspects were later taken into custody and charged with Patrolman Alfano's murder, including the shooter. The seven suspects were members of the Black P. Stone Nation Gang, Chicago's largest and most dangerous gang with more than 100,000 members. The shooter was one of the three leaders of the gang. All seven were tried for murder and acquitted.

Patrolman Alfano was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who had served with the Chicago Police Department for nine years and was assigned to the Gang Investigation Section. He was survived by his wife and two children.

Bio

Age 30
Tour 9 years
Badge 4707
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Incident Date Friday, August 14, 1970
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Acquitted

gang member, sniper

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Wishing today that I was getting in my car to come and visit you at your house where I would be able to greet you with the biggest hug and hold on to you a bit too long and we would sit and talk about how you’ve been and what you’ve been up to and how wonderful and handsome you still look at 85 years old!! Hours would go by like minutes as we share memories, funny times & inside jokes that only we would understand from the past. I would tell you how blessed I have been to have you as my dad and how you are the best grandfather and great grandfather ever, but sadly on the anniversary of your senseless death, our visit will have to take place at the cemetery. I will quietly share all my thoughts with you there and how my biggest wish has always been that you were not taken from us 55 years ago at the young age of 30. I will never understand why this happened, but knowing you are with God brings me peace. I love you forever & always Dad

Jacqueline Alfano Stone
Daughter

August 16, 2025