Patrolman Philip J. Coleman, Sr.

Philip J. Coleman, Sr.

Patrolmen Coleman, Paul Persigo, and Deputy Superintendent Louis Sirgo where shot and killed by a sniper who had shot several civilians and set fires at a local hotel.

Patrolman Coleman had driven his patrol car to a location where another person had been shot to try to rescue the man. He was shot as he stepped from his patrol car. The suspect, who was a member of the Black Panthers, was shot and killed by police, who used a Marine helicopter to fly over the hotel and fire at the suspect.

The suspect was also responsible for the murders of Cadet Alfred Harrell and Sergeant Edwin Hosli, who were shot in separate incidents eight days earlier. Cadet Harrell was killed instantly and Sergeant Hosli succumbed to his wounds on March 5, 1973.

Patrolman Coleman had served with the New Orleans Police Department for five years.

The Black Panthers is a racist, radical group that professed the murders of law enforcement officers. Members and former members of the group were responsible for the murders of at least 15 law enforcement officers and the wounding of dozens more across the nation.