Case Number: 8689
McDermott, Wm. � Age 30 � Colored � Shot to death in a grocery store at 24 W. 51st St. where he was doscovered committing burglary, by Sergt. Frank Reynolds, Patrolman John McNamara and Patrolman Orin Ross, who were exonerated by the Coroner 10/31/27. 3 Dist.
Circumstances
| Date of Offense | October 31, 1927 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | October 31, 1927 |
| Time Between Offense and Death | Immediate - death occurred at the crime scene |
| Address | 24 W. 51st St. |
| Type of Location | Place of business |
| Location Description | grocery store |
| Type of Death | Manslaughter |
| Description | Burglary |
| Total Number of Victims | 1 |
| Location | grocery store |
| Type of Business | Restaurant, food kitchen, other public eating place, hotel public place |
| Type of Manslaughter | Unintentional killing with gun |
Victim
| Name | McDermott, William |
|---|---|
| Age | 30 years |
| Gender | Male |
| Race | Black |
| Employed | Yes |
| VictimEmploymentType | Outside labor force (incl. criminals) |
| Ethnicity | African American |
| Occupation/ Skill | Criminal - burglar |
Defendant
| Name | Reynolds, Frank |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Ethnicity | Other, european |
| Race | White |
| Employed | Yes |
| Employment Type | Employed, professional (incl. police and military) |
| Killed While Protecting Property | Protecting a drug store |
| Related by Blood or Marriage | Former lovers |
Police
| Precinct | 3 |
|---|---|
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Time Between Crime and Arrest | Less than 1 day |
Legal
| Date of Coroner's Decision | October 31, 1927 |
|---|---|
| Outcome of Coroner's Judgment | Exonerated, Commended |
| Charges Against Defendant | No |
| Type of Legal Decision Recorded | Coroner's verdict only |
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
