Patrolman Samuel H. Hall

Samuel H. Hall

Patrolman Samuel H. Hall was shot and killed during a gunfight.

Patrolman Hall and his partner were working Beat Car 6110. While in the area of 36th and Wabash at 12:30 am, they heard a shot coming from State Street. Officer Hall drove to the area of State and 36th Place where they observed two men standing on the corner. As they pulled up and Patrolman Hall opened his squad car door, one man walked up to the side of the squad car in which Officer Hall was exiting and, at a very close range, drew an automatic pistol and opened fire on both officers. Patrolman Hall was hit three times and slumped on the steering wheel, fatally shot. His partner jumped from his side of the squad and returned fire, fatally wounding their assailant.

Investigation revealed that the shot heard by the officers, was a shot fired by a victim of a strong-arm robbery at the offender, who had just committed a strong arm robbery.

The inquest, held on October 9, 1962 determined that the fatal shooting of Patrolman Samuel Hall was murder and the verdict on the fatal shooting of his killer was ruled a justifiable homicide.