On August 28, 1972, Joseph Edwards, a 29-year-old officer with the Columbus Division of Police, was killed in an ambush while on duty in Columbus, Ohio. The incident took place when Officer Edwards and his partner, Officer Charles McFadden, were on a routine patrol near the intersection of Woodland Avenue and Maryland Avenue. As they approached the area, they were suddenly fired upon from an ambush, resulting in Edwards being shot in the head. Officer McFadden was also injured but survived the attack. Edwards was rushed to St. Anthony's Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
The investigation into the murder of Officer Edwards led detectives to suspect Allen Thrower, who was captured approximately four and a half months later in Beaumont, Texas. Thrower was eventually convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. However, in 1978, he was released from prison when evidence emerged indicating that the original investigation had been mishandled, and the State of Ohio decided not to retry him.
Joseph Edwards had been serving with the Columbus Police for about two years at the time of his death and was remembered for his dedication to his duties. He left behind a wife and two children. The case remains a somber reminder of the risks faced by law enforcement officers in the line of duty, and Edwards is remembered and honored at annual memorial services held by the Columbus Police Division and the broader law enforcement community.
