Detective Jeremiah Lucey

Jeremiah Lucey

Detective Jeremiah Lucey was fatally wounded when he was shot in the chest by James Lee, owner of a laundry at 2705 Diversey. Lee barricaded himself in the laundry and held 150 policemen at bay for 30 minutes before he was captured. He was also critically wounded in the battle and died in a Chicago hospital ten weeks later.

The incident began when Detectives Roman Steinke and Jeremiah Lucey attempted to arrest the laundry owner for slapping a boy. James Lee claimed he did not know Steinke and Lucey were police officers but instead thought the plain clothes officers had come into his shop to beat him.

Detective Lucey's partner, Detective Roman Steinke, succumbed to his wounds and died one week later.

Both detectives were assigned to the Shakespeare District. Detective Lucey was survived by his wife and two children.