Detective James M. Compton, Jr.

James M. Compton, Jr.

Detective James Compton was shot and killed while attempting to serve a narcotics warrant on a man suspected of selling marijuana to students at a nearby high school at 2145 North Gent in Indianapolis.

Detective Compton and three other detectives went to the man's home at approximately 10:00 pm to serve the warrant. When Detective Compton knocked on the door and identified himself, the suspect fired a shotgun from inside, striking him in the head.

Detective Compton was able to crawl to the front yard, where he collapsed before being transported to a local hospital, where he died approximately two hours later. The other detectives returned fire at the suspect, fatally wounding him.

Detective Compton was a United States Navy Vietnam Purple Heart veteran who had served with the Indianapolis Police Department for five years and with narcotics for only six weeks and had previously served as a police officer in Kansas for two years. Detective Compton was survived by his wife, 6- and 11-year-old daughters, and a 5-year-old son.