United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Prohibition, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Friday, July 21, 1933
Age:
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 21, 1933
Weapon Used: Handgun; Revolver
Suspect Info: Sentenced to death
Special Agent Paul Read was shot and killed in the 300 block of Woody Street in Missoula, Montana while attempting to speak to a known liquor dealer.
He located the man in his car in the 300 block of Woody Street and jumped onto the vehicle's running board. The man opened fire on Agent Read, fatally wounding him. The shooting occurred almost in front of the courthouse and the gunshots were heard by several other officers who were nearby.
The man who shot Agent Read was arrested at the scene and one gallon of moonshine whiskey was found in his vehicle. The subject claimed that he fired in self-defense after Special Agent Read pulled his gun first. However, Agent Read had a practice of not carrying his gun and it was found locked in the glove box of his vehicle parked a block away.
The subject was sentenced to death, but the sentence was later commuted to life in prison.
Special Agent Read had served with the Bureau of Prohibition for eight years and had previously served with the Shoshone County Sheriff's Office in Idaho.