Patrolman James Lonchiadis

James Lonchiadis

Patrolman James Lonchiadis was shot and killed when he interrupted an auto theft in progress at the Worcester City Motel on Route 9.

The 16-year-old suspect was able to disarm Patrolman Lonchiadis at gunpoint and forced him into the trunk of his patrol car. The teen then fatally shot him in the chest as Patrolman Lonchiadis told him he had a wife and two kids while pleading for his life.

The subject was arrested and sentenced to life in prison. He was paroled in 2008, but re-incarcerated in 2010 after being arrested for a parole violation. He was denied parole in January 2012. On February 4th, 2021, he was medically paroled. The parole board said he was suffering from throat cancer and COVID-19, and was not likely to live much longer. He died in a prison hospital in May 2021.

Patrolman Lonchiadis had served with the Shrewsbury Police Department for nine months. He was survived by his wife, daughter, and son, who became a member of the Shrewsbury Police Department in 1995. His son, Lieutenant Lonchiadis, was serving his 26th year with the Shrewsbury Police Department when his father's killer was paroled.