Sergeant Charles E. Eichhorst

Charles E. Eichhorst

Sergeant Charles Eichhorst was slain by gunmen as he attempted to foil a robbery in progress.

Sergeant Eichhorst, while on routine patrol, heard a call on the radio of a “Robbery in Progress”, in the Treasure Island Food Mart at 2540 W. Lawrence. Upon arrival, he observed a subject walking away from the front door. Sergeant Eichhorst ordered this man to stop and put his hands on the wall of the building. After ordering this man several times to stop and drawing his service revolver, the suspect put his hands up against the wall. The Sergeant was about to search the suspect when another offender came running out the front door of the store, unobserved by Sergeant Eichhorst. The second offender aimed and fatally shot Sergeant Eichhorst in the right temple. He died instantly. Both men fled on foot.

Investigation at the scene and the route of escape, articles of clothing were found in the alley, one of which was a shirt. In this shirt was found a traffic ticket issued to a subject. Near the scene was found a 1955 Buick and attached to the windshield was an application for state license plates, said receipt, made out to the same subject. A picture was obtained and witnesses to the robbery of the store and the fatal shoot of Sergeant Eichhorst positively identified the photo as being the one that Sergeant Eichhorst had up against the wall.

Both offenders were successful in eluding the police and it was determined that a friend drove them to Gary, Indiana. A nationwide search was instituted and warrants were obtained as the F.B.I. entered the case.

On December 15, 1965, the F.B.I. arrested Sergeant Eichhorst’s killer in Miami, Florida and on December 29, 1965, the second offender surrendered at the Chicago Office of the F.B.I. Both were indicted by the Grand Jury for murder on January 5, 1966.

On July 29, 1966 both were found guilty of armed robbery and murder. On August 26, 1966, the first offender was sentenced to 75 to 100 years for murder and 20 to 40 years for the robbery to the Illinois State Penitentiary. The shooter was sentenced to 100 to 200 years for murder and 24 to 40 years in the Illinois State penitentiary.

His wife, daughter and son survive Sergeant Charles Eichhorst.