Case Number: 7468
Skiba, Vincent - Age 52 - Patrolman - 7th Dist. - Shot to death at 79th St. and Merrill Ave., by three negroes whom he attempted to arrest after they had robbed two stores. On 1/10/24 the men, Lucius Dalton, Eddie Duncan and Henry Wilson, were arrested. They confessed and were indicted. 7 Dist. 2/23/24 both Dalton and Wilson were sentenced to hang 2/18/24. - Caverly. 2/25/24 Duncan - Life in Joliet Pen. - Caverly. On 4/18/24 Dalton and Wilson were hanged in the Co. Jail.
Circumstances
| Date of Offense | January 7, 1924 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | January 7, 1924 |
| Time Between Offense and Death | Immediate - death occurred at the crime scene |
| Address | 79th st. and Merrill ave. |
| Type of Location | Street, or other non-commercial public place/alley |
| Type of Public Place | Street, sidewalk or alley |
| Location Description | at 79th and Merrill ave. |
| Type of Death | Homicide |
| Type of Homicide | Intentional murder |
| Characteristics | patrolman shot-attempted arrest |
| Method of Killing | Other gun, gun unspecified |
| Weapon | shot ot death |
| Motive | defendants resisted arrest after 2 robberies |
| Description | Police officer killed during apprehension |
| Total Number of Victims | 1 |
| Excessive Violence | Multiple assailants |
| Location | at 79th and Merrill ave. |
| Number of Defendants | 3 |
| Related to Organized Crime |
Victim
| Name | Skiba, Vincent |
|---|---|
| Age | 52 years |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | White |
| Employed | Yes |
| VictimEmploymentType | Employed, professional (incl. police and military) |
| Ethnicity | Other, european |
| Known to Chicago Police as | Other, known to Chicago police |
| Occupation/ Skill | Law enforcement |
Defendant
| Name | Dalton, Lucius |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Race | Black |
Police
| Precinct | 16 |
|---|---|
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Date Defendant Arrested | 15-Apr-24 |
| Time Between Crime and Arrest | Days |
| Total Number of Defendants Arrested | 3 |
| Victim Employed by Law Enforcement | Patrolman on duty, on street, beat |
Legal
| Date of Coroner's Decision | January 10, 1924 |
|---|---|
| Outcome of Coroner's Judgment | Defendant held to Grand Jury |
| Trial Judge | Caverly |
| Type of Legal Decision Recorded | Coroner, grand jury, trial, and post conviction |
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Date of Sentence | February 23, 1924 |
| Length of Sentence | Death penalty |
| Outcome of Grand Jury Decision | Indictment, other homicide, homicide unspecified |
| Outcome of Trial | Guilty, unspecified offense |
| Post Trial Information | Death sentence carried out |
| Sentence Completed | Yes |
