Chicago Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Wednesday, March 23, 1921
Age: 45
Tour of Duty: 14 years, 4 months
Badge Number: 2963
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 23, 1921
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Escaped from prison
Patrolman Patrick J. O'Neill was shot and killed at 10:00 pm in the rear of 6415 Washtenaw Avenue as he and several other police officers attempted to make an arrest.
When Patrolman O'Neill and fellow officers surrounded the building, the gunman ran out the rear door and opened fire. Patrolman O'Neill suffered multiple gunshot wounds and succumbed to his injuries at 11:30 pm the same day.
The brother-in-law and sister of the killer were arrested and, on April 22, 1921, indicted on the charge of accessory to murder. On July 30, 1921, the killer was arrested in St. Paul, Minnesota. On September 28, 1921, the case against the killers. The brother-in-law and sister were nolle prossed (dismissed.) On October 14, 1921, Officer O'Neill's killer was sentenced to hang on December 15, 1921. He escaped from the County Jail on December 11, 1921. He was never recaptured; It was reported that he died in 1951.
In 1927 the suspect was responsible for planning a robbery of a pharmacy in Detroit, Michigan. A gunfight resulted in the deaths of the two suspects and Officer Stacey C. Mizner of the Detroit Police Department.
Patrolman O'Neill had served with the Chicago Police Department for over 14 years assigned to the Detective Bureau. He was survived by his wife and three children.