Bio & Incident Details
Age: 28
Tour: 3 years
Badge # Not available
Cause: Gunfire
Location: Indiana
Incident Date: 4/14/1923
Weapon: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect: Convicted of manslaughter
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Detective Louis Shirley was shot and killed while patrolling the New York Central rail yards in downtown Elkhart, Indiana. He was shot in the back twice when he interrupted the burglary of railroad cars near the passenger terminal. Detective Shirley had voluntarily started his shift 30 minutes early but was shot at 5:23 pm, only 23 minutes later.
A suspect was arrested but convicted only of manslaughter and sentenced to the maximum two to 21 years in prison. The suspect was later sentenced to life in prison after a conviction of being a habitual offender.
Detective Shirley had served with the New York Central Railroad Police Department for three years. He was a World War I veteran and had received several citations for bravery while in the armed forces. He was survived by his widowed mother.
