University City Police Department, Missouri
End of Watch: Friday, December 12, 1969
Age: 34
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: 39
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 12, 1969
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Paroled in 1982
Police Officer Wilbert Downey was shot and killed at the scene of a gas station robbery at 8341 Olive Boulevard.
He interrupted five men attempting a gas station robbery. When Officer Downey entered the gas station he tried to subdue the subject armed with a .22 caliber weapon. The man shot Officer Downey once before gaining control of Officer Downey's service weapon and then killed him.
The man, 18, was apprehended the next day in St. Louis and charged with murder. He was sentenced to death, however, the sentence was appealed and overturned and he was sentenced to life. He was paroled in April of 1982. In April of 1989 federal officers charged him with fraud when he lied on an application for a school bus driver position. His parole supervision has ended a few weeks earlier. The other four suspects were apprehended and sentenced to lesser terms in prison.
Officer Downey was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.