Bio & Incident Details
Age: 42
Tour: 17 years
Badge # 367
Cause: Gunfire
Incident Date: 7/16/1945
Weapon: Officer's handgun
Suspect: Not available
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Sergeant O'Donnell was shot and killed as he and another trooper escorted a prisoner back to New Jersey. The prisoner had been arrested in Pennsylvania and had agreed to turn himself in to New Jersey authorities.
Sergeant O'Donnell and another trooper met the suspect on the Pennsylvania side of a railroad bridge and began to walk the suspect back across the river. As they got to the midpoint of the bridge the suspect attempted to jump over the railing, but was stopped by Sergeant O'Donnell.
During the ensuing struggle the suspect was able to grab Sergeant O'Donnell's revolver and shot him twice in the abdomen, causing fatal wounds.
Sergeant O'Donnell had served with the agency for 17 years. He was survived by his wife.
