Homicide in Chicago :: INTERACTIVE DATABASE

Case Description

Simpson, John - Patrolman, 3 Pct. - Age 28 - (Col.) - Fatally shot July 28 at 31st St. & Wabash Ave., by some unknown rioters whose arrest and holdover for murder was recommended by Coroner 8/28/19. 3 Pct. [RIOT CASE]

Case Number

5209

Circumstances

Date of offense	July 28, 1919
Date of death	July 29, 1919
Time between offense and death	Within 1 day
Address	31st st. & Wabash Ave.
Type of location	Street, or other non-commercial public place/alley
Type of public place	Street, sidewalk or alley
Location description	31st st. & Wabash
Type of death	Manslaughter
Type of manslaughter	Civil Unrest (riot, labor strike, etc.)
Murder/suicide?	Yes
Circumstances description	Race riot
Total number of victims	1
Related to civil unrest?	Yes
Type of civil unrest	Riot, brawling crowd
Circumstances of civil unrest	riot
Related to Prohibition?	Yes

Victim

Name	Simpson, John
Age	28 years
Gender	Male
Race	Black
Ethnicity	African American
Employed	Yes
Employment Type	Employed, professional (incl. police and military)
Occupational skill	Law enforcement
Killed while protecting person	Protecting self
Victim/defendant relationship	Not related by family

Defendant

Defendant/victim relationship

Stranger

Police

Victim employed in law enforcement	Patrolman on duty, on street, beat
Precinct	3
Allegations of police corruption	No

Legal

Date of coroner's decision	August 28, 1919
Outcome of coroner's judgement	Recommended investigation/arrest
Type of legal decision recorded	Coroner's verdict only
Allegations of police corruption	No

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