James Schaffer, a 48-year-old white male, died on April 14, 1969, in Chicago, Illinois. Schaffer, a sergeant with the Chicago Police Department, was killed in the line of duty during a violent confrontation with a suspect. On that fateful day, Schaffer and his colleague, Detective Jerome A. Stubig, responded to a call at 9521 South Exchange Avenue. They were investigating a series of bombings linked to a suspect named Frank J. Kulak, a former marine.
Upon arrival, Schaffer and Stubig were met with gunfire from Kulak, who then threw a bomb at them, causing severe injuries. As they lay injured, Kulak exited his apartment and shot both officers with a carbine, resulting in their deaths.
The incident led to a six-hour standoff between Kulak and the police, during which Kulak barricaded himself in his apartment. The standoff ended when Kulak surrendered to Deputy Police Superintendent James Rochford. Kulak was taken into custody, and an arsenal of weapons and bombs was recovered from his apartment. It was later revealed that Kulak was responsible for six other bombings, which had resulted in two additional deaths and several injuries.
Kulak, known as the "South Chicago Bomber," was adjudged insane and committed to Chester Mental Hospital in Menard, where he remained until his death in 2014. The case of James Schaffer's death was a significant event in Chicago's history, highlighting the dangers faced by law enforcement officers and the impact of mental illness on criminal behavior.
