Detective John S. Buettner

John S. Buettner

Detective John Buettner succumbed to a gunshot wound received three days earlier while attempting to question a robbery suspect at East 79th Street and Superior shortly after midnight.

While on routine patrol, Detective Buettner and his partner received notification about a robbery at 11:30 pm. They stopped their vehicle when they noticed a subject matching the description of one of the robbery suspects. When the two officers approached the man, he suddenly produced a small handgun from his waistband and opened fire, striking Detective Buettner in the stomach. Detective Buettner's partner was able to return fire and struck the fleeing subject in the right shoulder before he escaped. Detective Buettner was transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds three days later.

The subject was eventually apprehended and confessed to the robbery and Detective Buettner's murder. He was sentenced to death for the murder and executed in the electric chair.

Detective Buettner had served with the Cleveland Division of Police for 19 years. He was survived by his wife and two children.