Pennsylvania State Constable - Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Friday, October 16, 1903
Age: 41
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 16, 1903
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Constable William Shields was shot and killed in the Glassport Hotel, along Allegheny Avenue in Glassport, while attempting to serve a warrant.
Earlier in the day two subjects had caused their dog to attack a railroad worker. The victim had obtained warrants on the two men and the local Justice of the Peace then requested Constable Shields serve the warrants.
Constable Shields and two Glassport police officers located the men at the Glassport Hotel. One of them was taken into custody in front of the hotel without incident. The officers located the second man inside the hotel's restaurant. As they attempted to arrest him the man opened fire with a pistol, wounding one of the Glassport officers and killing Constable Shields.
The subject was killed by return gunfire. The second subject was able to escape.