New York City Police Department, New York
End of Watch: Thursday, December 16, 1920
Age: 43
Tour of Duty: 25 years
Badge Number: No number
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 16, 1920
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: One killed; One arrested
Lieutenant Floyd Horton died of a gunshot wound he received when he attempted to arrest a suspect who had just robbed a man.
Lieutenant Horton was off duty and walking home when he heard a man yelling, "Police! Stop, thief!" Lieutenant Horton ran to the location and was told that two men had just held up an elevator operator inside 540 West 146 Street, Manhattan. The suspects were escaping in an automobile, so Lieutenant Horton jumped onto the running board of a taxi to catch up to the suspects. The suspects fired at Lieutenant Horton, and he returned fire. Lieutenant Horton jumped onto the running board of the suspects' vehicle and exchanged several shots with them before he was struck in the chest and fell to the street at the intersection of Broadway and 146th Street.
As the vehicle fled, Lieutenant Horton was able to write down the license plate number. He was removed to the hospital, where he died a few hours later.
One suspect was found dead from his wounds later in the day by a patrolman. Detectives were able to locate the escape vehicle and arrested the second suspect. A witness identified the second suspect as the man who fired the fatal shots at Lieutenant Horton. He was charged with murder and later convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life.
Lieutenant Horton had served as a police officer for 25 years, starting his career with the Brooklyn Police Department and later serving with New York City Police Department after the two departments were consolidated. He was assigned to the 40th Precinct, the modern-day 30th Precinct. He was survived by his wife and several children.