Long Beach Police Department, California
End of Watch: Sunday, July 17, 1949
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 8 years, 6 months
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 17, 1949
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Paroled in 1973
Patrolman Evans was shot and killed while he and his partner questioned a burglary suspect near Willow Street and Pine Avenue. He was pronounced dead upon arrival to Seaside Hospital. The suspect, 26, an ex-convict paroled from San Quentin three months earlier, was apprehended five hours later. Ironically Patrolman Evans had a brush with death two nights earlier during a high speed chase. When the fleeing car hit another car he was forced to swing sharply into a concrete wall demolishing his cruiser.
The suspect had spent all of his adult life in prison, having served 9 years for armed robbery and burglary. On November 17, 1949, he was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life. He was paroled in 1973.
Patrolman Evans was survived by his wife and two children, 6 and 2.