Luke John Fitzpatrick, a 36-year-old male police officer with the Chicago Police Department, died on November 19, 1906. He was a 12-year veteran of the force, assigned to District 5, 12th Precinct – Woodlawn. On the night of his death, Officer Fitzpatrick was approached by a train conductor who informed him that two men had just exited a train and mentioned committing a burglary in Hammond, Indiana. Fitzpatrick, along with Probationary Patrolman John J.
Murphy, went to investigate.
Upon entering the elevated train station at 1400 East 63rd Street, the two suspects, Charles Hanson and Guy Van Tassell, began shooting. Officer Fitzpatrick sustained four gunshot wounds, one in the head and three in the abdomen. Despite the efforts of his fellow officers, he succumbed to his injuries at St. Bernard Hospital later that morning.
Charles Hanson was arrested shortly after the shooting, while Guy Van Tassell initially escaped but was later captured. Hanson was convicted of Fitzpatrick's murder and sentenced to life in prison. However, due to delays in his trial, Hanson was released in 1947 after serving over 40 years in prison.
Officer Fitzpatrick's death was classified as a line-of-duty death, and he is honored on several memorials, including the Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall.
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