Patrolman Jerry E. Murphy

Jerry E. Murphy

Patrolman Jerry Murphy was shot and killed while responding to a burglary in progress call at 4049 W Jackson Boulevard.

At approximately 4:30 p.m. two suspects were burglarizing an apartment when the occupant pressed an alarm to his brother’s apartment. The victim's brother called the police.

As officers arrived the suspects inside opened fire on them. Patrolman Murphy entered the building through a rear window and went to the lobby where the armed suspects were now barricaded. Patrolman Murphy was shot and killed before he could return fire.

Tear gas bombs forced one of the suspects upstairs where he tried to gain entry into an apartment by identifying himself as a police officer. The female occupant called down to a uniformed officer who instructed her to call the detective bureau and ask for reinforcements.

Within minutes, several squads of backup officers arrived. They entered the lobby where they found Patrolman Murphy dead beside two of the gunmen. The third suspect shouted from the third floor that he would surrender and came down. He was arrested and indicted for the murder of Patrolman Murphy.