Edward Tillman, a 31-year-old African American man, was tragically killed on September 26, 1973, in Dayton, Ohio. His death was part of a series of racially motivated attacks carried out by Neal Bradley Long, also known as "The Shotgun Slayer" or "The Midnight Slayer." Long was a white supremacist who targeted African American men in Dayton between 1972 and 1975.
On the night of Tillman's death, Long shot him while driving through the Germantown and Greencastle intersection at around
1:30 a.m. This murder was one of several attacks Long committed during his spree, which resulted in the deaths of at least four people and injuries to 14 others. Long's motive was rooted in his anger over desegregation and his belief in white supremacy.
Neal Long was eventually arrested on September 19, 1975, after he shot and killed Dr. Charles A. Glatt, the architect of Dayton schools' desegregation plan, in the federal courthouse. Long confessed to his crimes and was convicted of multiple counts of aggravated murder and murder. He received several life sentences and died in a federal prison in Minnesota in 1998.
The case of Edward Tillman and the other victims of Neal Long highlighted the severe racial tensions and violence that existed in Dayton during that period. The community's response included all-night vigils, citizen patrols, and a $10,000 reward for information leading to Long's arrest. The Dayton police, along with the FBI, worked tirelessly to bring Long to justice and put an end to his reign of terror.
Edward Tillman's death remains a somber reminder of the impact of racial hatred and the importance of continuing efforts to combat such violence and promote equality and justice for all.
