Chicago Police Department, Illinois
End of Watch: Tuesday, October 12, 1976
Age: 38
Tour of Duty: 15 years
Badge Number: 5701
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 10, 1976
Weapon Used: Handgun; .32 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Police Officer Terrence Loftus was shot and killed when he attempted to intervene in a dispute between two rival gangs.
Officer Loftus was on his way home when he observed a gang fight. A group of gang members were chasing the rival gang member at the corner of Fullerton Avenue and Central Park Avenue. Officer Loftus exited his patrol car and attempted to stop the altercation.
Many members of the rival gang were having a party in a club across the street and when they saw what was happening they all came out of the club. One of them fired a shot that struck Officer Loftus in the spine. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds two days later.
The 18-year-old suspect was apprehended, convicted of murder, and sentenced to 200 to 600 years. As of September 7th, 2020, he was still in prison.
Officer Loftus was a 15 year veteran of the Chicago Police Department.