Chicago Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Thursday, January 1, 1931
Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: 6048
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: January 1, 1931
Weapon Used: Rifle; Machine gun
Suspect Info: Charged with murder
Patrolman John Vondruska was shot and killed when he tried to prevent an armed robbery of $8,000 at the Yellow Cab Company garage at Leamington Avenue and Flournoy Street.
The gunmen drove up to the garage just before 7:00 a.m. and confronted Patrolman Vondruska at his post.
When the gunmen commanded "Stick them up," Patrolman Vondruska opened fire. One of the gunmen, armed with a machine gun, opened fire and killed him. The 24-year-old man was arrested at a local hospital where he went with a gunshot wound to his leg. He said he was shot by an unknown person as he was walking down the street. A witness identified him and he was charged with Patrolman Vondruska's murder.
A cab driver was shot in the legs as he attempted to assist Patrolman Vondruska.
Patrolman Vondruska was assigned to the Fillmore Street Station.