Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Wednesday, June 6, 1917
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: 10 years, 7 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 6, 1917
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Electrocuted
Patrolman Charles Edinger was shot and killed while responding to a liquor store burglary at 3703 Fifth Avenue.
Patrolman Edinger had responded to a call for help from the liquor store owner but had to retreat when the subject opened fire, wounding the store owner's 20-year-old son. Upon the arrival of other units, Patrolman Edinger entered the store through a rear window to flush the subject out through the front door. While fleeing out the front door, the subject shot Patrolman Edinger. Officers wounded the burglar, a deserter from the United States Army, as he exited the building.
Patrolman Edinger was taken to Homeopathic Hospital, succumbing to his wounds several hours later. On June 23, the liquor store owner's son succumbed to his wounds.
It was initially thought that Patrolman Edinger was killed in a case of mistaken identity. However, a coroner's jury discovered that the bullet removed from him did not match the caliber of weapon the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police issued.
On July 12, the suspect was held by a coroner's jury and charged the suspect with two counts of homicide. The suspect was held on additional charges in September for entering a building with the intent of committing a felony and carrying a concealed weapon. On February 25, 1918, the suspect was found guilty of first-degree murder for the liquor store owner's son and second-degree murder for Patrolman Edinger.
The suspect was given a death sentence handed down to the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court on March 10, 1919. The suspect was sentenced to death and electrocuted on January 5, 1920, at Rockview Prison.
Patrolman Edinger served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for less than 11 years and was assigned to the Number 4 Police Station Oakland, present-day Zone 4 Police Station Oakland. He was survived by his wife.