United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Saturday, September 26, 1953
Age: 36
Tour of Duty: 13 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 25, 1953
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Special Agent John Murphy was shot and killed by a murder suspect in a movie theatre at 311 West Fayette Street in Baltimore, Maryland.
The man had been traced to the theatre from a phone call he made to Los Angeles, California. As Agent Murphy and other agents attempted to arrest the man he opened fire killing Agent Murphy and wounding another agent. Other agents returned fire killing the suspect. The 32-year-old man had been released from Alcatraz Prison six months earlier after serving a sentence for bank robbery.
Agent Murphy had served with the FBI for 13 years. He was survived by his wife and three children.