Metropolitan Police Department, District of Columbia
End of Watch: Thursday, July 7, 1904
Age: 59
Tour of Duty: 34 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 4, 1904
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Acquitted
Officer John Smith was shot and killed by a soldier from Ft. Meyer during the 4th of July fireworks display.
Three soldiers were creating a scene on Aqueduct Bridge and Officer Smith asked them to move on. A struggle ensued between Officer Smith and one of the soldiers. During the struggle a second soldier fired with a .38 caliber handgun, striking Officer Smith in the stomach.
He succumbed to his wound three days later. The suspects were eventually apprehended. The gunman was tried and acquitted on April 12th, 1905.
Officer Smith was assigned to the 7th precinct and had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for 34 years. He was survived by his wife, six children, and his mother, and he is buried Mount Olivet Cemetery, Washington, DC.