Metropolitan Police Department, District of Columbia
End of Watch: Monday, December 14, 1987
Age: 41
Tour of Duty: 17 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Date of Incident: December 14, 1987
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Not available
Officer James Gordon was shot and killed by a Prince George's County police officer in a case of mistaken identity.
He had returned to his home in 10600 block of Mt. Lubentia Way in Largo, Maryland, when he discovered an open window and suspected that a burglar might be inside. As Officer Gordon walked through the house with his gun drawn, a Prince George's County police officer arrived on the scene because a neighbor had reported seeing a suspicious person enter the home.
In a tragic case of mistaken identity, the responding officer shot and killed Officer Gordon when he turned toward him with his gun in hand.
Officer Gordon was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for 17 years. He was survived by his daughter.