Richard Warren Walton, a 43-year-old White male, served his community as a dedicated patrol officer. His life, however, was tragically cut short on a fateful autumn evening. While working a secondary job as a security guard at Mounds Park Hospital, he found himself in a dangerous situation unfolding within the hospital's pharmacy.
On the evening of October 24, 1982, three men wearing ski masks accosted the hospital pharmacist, demanding Class A narcotics at gunpoint.
As the pharmacist was being forced to retrieve the drugs, a sound signaled the arrival of an elevator. The doors opened to reveal Officer Walton, who had been alerted to the robbery. Before he could react, one of the assailants opened fire, striking him twice in the head. He was rushed to another hospital for medical attention but ultimately succumbed to his severe injuries the following day.
The aftermath of the shooting set in motion an intensive investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice. One of the suspects was apprehended a short time after the murder, providing an early break in the case. The other two men involved in the deadly pharmacy robbery remained at large for two more years before they were finally captured by law enforcement. All three individuals were subsequently convicted for their roles in the crime and received life sentences in prison. Years later, the gunman was granted parole in 2015, but his freedom was short-lived as he was sent back to prison after failing a drug test. Richard Warren Walton, who had been with the Oakdale Police Department for seven years, was survived by his wife and five children.
