Case Number: 7450
O'Neill, Patrick - Age 45 - Patrolman, D.B. - Shot to death in rear of 6415 Washtenaw Ave., by Thomas O'Connor whom he with several other officers attempted to arrest. O'Connor escaped. On 3/24/21 Wm. and Mary Foley, his brother-in-law and sister were arrested and on 4/22/21 indicted as accessories. 11 Pct. 7/30/21 O'Connor arrested and brought back from St. Paul, Minn. 8/2/21 turned over to the Sheriff. 9/28/21 Wm. & Mary Foley cases Nolled - McKinley. 10/14/21 O'Connor sentenced to hang 2/15/21 - Scanlan. Escaped from Co. Jail 12/6/21.
Circumstances
| Date of Offense | March 23, 1921 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | March 23, 1921 |
| Time Between Offense and Death | Immediate - death occurred at the crime scene |
| Address | 6415 Washtenaw ave. |
| Type of Location | Residence |
| Location Description | in rear of 6415 Washtenaw ave. |
| Type of Death | Homicide |
| Type of Homicide | Intentional murder |
| Characteristics | patrolman shot-attempted arrest |
| Method of Killing | Other gun, gun unspecified |
| Weapon | shot to death |
| Motive | resisting arrest |
| Description | Police officer killed during apprehension |
| Total Number of Victims | 1 |
| Location | in rear of 6415 Washtenaw ave. |
| Number of Defendants | 1 |
| Related to Organized Crime | |
| Type of Residence | Residence of defendant |
Victim
| Name | O'neill, Patrick |
|---|---|
| Age | 45 years |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | White |
| Employed | Yes |
| VictimEmploymentType | Employed, professional (incl. police and military) |
| Ethnicity | Irish |
| Known to Chicago Police as | Other, known to Chicago police |
| Occupation/ Skill | Law enforcement |
Defendant
| Name | O'Connor, Thomas |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Ethnicity | Irish |
| Race | White |
Police
| Precinct | 17 |
|---|---|
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Date Defendant Arrested | 9-Jun-21 |
| Defendant Identified at Scene | No |
| Time Between Crime and Arrest | Months |
| Total Number of Defendants Arrested | 3 |
| Victim Employed by Law Enforcement | Patrolman on duty, on street, beat |
Legal
| Outcome of Coroner's Judgment | Defendant held to Grand Jury |
|---|---|
| Trial Judge | Scanlon |
| Type of Legal Decision Recorded | Coroner, grand jury, trial, post conviction and commutation or retrial |
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Date of Sentence | October 14, 1921 |
| Length of Sentence | Death penalty |
| Outcome of Trial | Guilty of murder |
| Post Trial Information | Other |
