In the summer of 1933, on a fateful July day in Missoula, Montana, the life of Paul Albro Read, a White/Caucasian male, was cut short by a violent encounter. Special Agent Read, an officer with the Bureau of Prohibition, was carrying out his duties during a tumultuous period in American history. The nation was in the grip of Prohibition, and the illegal trade of alcohol was a dangerous business for both those involved in it and the law enforcement officers sworn to stop them.
On July
21st, Agent Read was on the trail of a known liquor dealer. He located his quarry on Woody Street, where the suspect was seated in his car. As the dedicated agent approached the vehicle, likely with the intent of making an arrest, the situation escalated with deadly speed. The suspect, without hesitation, opened fire on Agent Read. The gunshots shattered the quiet of the Missoula street and found their mark, fatally wounding the federal officer.
Despite the immediate response of fellow officers and the efforts of medical personnel, Agent Read's injuries were too severe. He succumbed to the gunshot wounds, a stark reminder of the perils faced by those on the front lines of the nation's war on illegal alcohol. His death underscored the bravery and commitment of the officers who worked to uphold the law during the challenging era of Prohibition. The suspect, the unnamed liquor dealer in the car, was identified as the individual who shot and killed the agent in the line of duty.
