On the night of December 10, 1912, Night Policeman John Shaw, a 27-year-old white male, was tragically killed in Virden, Illinois. Shaw was responding to a domestic disturbance call at a home on the outskirts of town. Accompanied by a merchant policeman, Shaw attempted to gain access to the residence when someone inside opened fire with a shotgun, striking him in the head. The other officer returned fire but did not hit the shooter.
The incident also resulted in injuries to two other occupants of the home and the stabbing of a 1-year-old child during the altercation.
The man who shot Officer Shaw committed suicide while hiding underneath the home's porch, effectively ending any immediate pursuit of justice through the legal system. This tragic event left Shaw's wife widowed and the community mourning the loss of a dedicated officer. The case did not proceed to trial due to the shooter's suicide, and there were no further arrests or litigations directly related to Shaw's death. The incident is remembered as a significant and sorrowful moment in the history of the Virden Police Department.
