Lieutenant Casper Thomas Schmotzer
Pittsburgh Police Department
Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Tuesday, January 23, 1923

Biographical Info
Age: 36
Tour of Duty: 13 years, 6 months
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Tuesday, January 23, 1923
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Not available

Lieutenant Casper Schmotzer was shot and killed when he and other police officers attempted to retrieve a revolver that had been stolen from a bar that morning.

Lieutenant Schmotzer and another police officer were sent to 2633 Josephine Street where the alleged stolen gun was located. An additional officer was at the location waiting for Lieutenant Schmotzer and his partner. The three officers knocked on the door, which was answered by the suspect who claimed he did not steal the gun and then closed and locked the door. Lieutenant Schmotzer and his partner went to the rear of the house in a second attempt to speak with the suspect. As they approached the rear door of the house they were fired upon three times through the door. One bullet struck Lieutenant Schmotzer in the stomach and one bullet hit his right shoulder; the third bullet struck Lieutenant Schmotzer's partner in the hand.

The third officer at the scene, who had remained at the front door, found the two injured officers when he heard shots fired and ran to a nearby call box to call in the shooting. Responding officers took Lieutenant Schmotzer and his partner to a nearby hospital where Lieutenant Schmotzer succumbed to his injuries. His partner recovered from his injury.

An investigation of the the shooting found that the stolen revolver had been in the house and was the weapon used against Lieutenant Schmotzer and his partner.

Lieutenant Schmotzer had served with the agency for 13 and a half years. He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter, and two brothers; the oldest brother was also a police officer for the Pittsburgh Police Department.