Cyrus Shaeffer, a 38-year-old male police officer in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, died on February 14, 1903. Officer Shaeffer was attempting to arrest a murder suspect named David Shaud, who had just killed a woman who had testified against him in a burglary trial. As Officer Shaeffer climbed the stairs into the attic of Shaud's home, Shaud ambushed him and shot him twice, fatally wounding him. The suspect surrendered to another officer shortly after the shooting and later pled guilty to murder. He was sentenced to death and hanged four months later.
Officer Shaeffer was survived by his wife and two children. His death was a tragic event that highlighted the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in the line of duty. The suspect, David Shaud, was buried at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania.
The incident led to a significant investigation, and Shaud's guilty plea and subsequent execution brought a measure of closure to the case. Officer Shaeffer's sacrifice is remembered and honored by his family, friends, and fellow officers.
