In the winter of 1907, a long-serving police captain in Jackson, Michigan, met a sudden and violent end within the very walls of the station where he worked. On the morning of Tuesday, February 5th, Captain John G. Holzapfel was at his desk when a 14-year veteran of the department, Officer Ike Lewis, walked past him. Lewis proceeded to his locker, retrieved his new.
32 caliber Colt revolver, and returned to the captain's desk.
Without warning, Officer Lewis fired three shots at Captain Holzapfel. The first bullet struck the captain in the chest, proving to be a fatal wound. The subsequent two shots went wild, one narrowly missing the police chief who, along with three other patrol officers, quickly moved to subdue the shooter. In the ensuing struggle, Lewis fired another shot, this time at the chief, but the bullet went out a window. The officers were ultimately able to place Officer Lewis in handcuffs and take him into custody.
Following his arrest, Ike Lewis faced legal proceedings for the murder of Captain Holzapfel. After an initial trial, a second trial was held which resulted in a conviction. Lewis was sentenced to serve a life sentence in prison at hard labor for the killing of his superior officer. However, his time in prison did not last for the remainder of his life. After serving nine years of his sentence, on August 10, 1916, Ike Lewis was granted parole by Governor Ferris.
