Detective James L. Kelly
Gary Police Department
Indiana
End of Watch: Saturday, April 30, 1932

Biographical Info
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Saturday, April 30, 1932
Incident Location: Illinois
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life

Detective James Kelly was in Oak Park, Illinois, investigating several hold-ups in Gary and Hammond when he and Oak Park Detective Milton Larson entered an apartment building, believing they were on the trail of a bank robber.

The bank robber wasn't there, but instead they found another subject, who was hiding out at the apartment for some other crime and opted to shoot it out with police. Detective Kelly was killed and Detective Larson was wounded as the suspect made his escape in a vehicle. A few days later the suspect was captured in Columbus, Ohio after he and another man robbed two theater messengers of $450.

The suspect pleaded guilty to Detective Kelly's murder in exchange for being spared the electric chair. He was sentenced to life in prison on June 3, 1932.

Detective Kelly was survived by his wife and four children.