In the winter of 1973, a tragic event unfolded in New Orleans that claimed the life of Patrolman Paul Arlynn 'Butch' Persigo, a 33-year-old male officer of the New Orleans Police Department. On January 7th of that year, a sniper had taken up a position in the Howard Johnson hotel, causing chaos and danger in the heart of the city. As officers responded to the escalating situation, Patrolman Persigo was among those working to clear civilians from the perilous area in front of the hotel.
It was during this heroic act of protecting the public that he was fatally shot by the sniper.
The siege at the hotel was a prolonged and intense affair, lasting for 36 hours. The lone gunman, who had already killed several other individuals, engaged in a fierce gun battle with law enforcement. The violent standoff ultimately concluded when police sharpshooters, in a dramatic rooftop confrontation, killed the suspect.
The sniper was responsible for the deaths of several other people over a seven-day period, including Deputy Superintendent Louis Sirgo and Cadet Alfred Harrell. Another officer, Edwin Hosli, Sr., succumbed to his wounds months later. Patrolman Persigo, a six-year veteran of the police force, was survived by his wife and three children. Because the suspect was killed at the scene, there were no subsequent arrests or trial.
