In the Bronx, a tragic series of events led to the death of 34-year-old Patrolman Edwin Churchill on August 21, 1931. The incident began when another officer, Patrolman Walter Webb, was escorting a fur company's paymaster on 133rd Street. Two armed men approached them, and Patrolman Webb was fatally shot as he reached for his weapon. The assailants then stole the payroll and fled in the paymaster's car.
A high-speed chase ensued, and the fleeing suspects encountered Patrolman Churchill at the intersection of Boston Road and 169th Street. An exchange of gunfire followed, during which Patrolman Churchill was struck in the abdomen. The chase continued for 12 miles, with hundreds of rounds being fired. Tragically, two children were also shot and killed by the suspects during the pursuit.
The pursuit finally came to an end when the vehicle carrying the three suspects was stopped. In the final confrontation, all three suspects were shot and killed by law enforcement. Patrolman Churchill, a U.S. Army veteran of World War I, succumbed to his injuries. He was survived by his wife. The violent crime spree also claimed the lives of Patrolman Walter J. Webb, 39, Gloria Lopez, 4, and Herbert Hasse, 27.
