In the summer of 1925, a dedicated 29-year-old male patrolman with the Roanoke City Police Department, Claude H. Morgan, found his life cut short in the line of duty. A veteran of the United States Navy, having served in World War I, Morgan had been with the police force for three and a half years, building a reputation for his commitment to upholding the law in Roanoke, Virginia.
On the warm evening of Wednesday, July 1, 1925, Patrolman Morgan, along with Detective Ambrose Smith and Patrolman William Terry, was part of a liquor raid on a residence located at the corner of 2nd Avenue and 22nd Street NW. As the officers surrounded the house at approximately 9:00 p.m., the tense quiet of the evening was shattered by the sudden crack of a pistol shot. In the chaotic shootout that immediately followed, all three officers were struck by gunfire and sustained fatal injuries.
Patrolman Morgan was grievously wounded, having been shot in the head. He was rushed for medical attention but succumbed to his severe injury early the next morning, on Thursday, July 2, 1925. His colleague, Patrolman Terry, passed away from his wounds two days later, and Detective Smith would tragically die from his injuries two years after the incident. The sudden and violent deaths of these officers sent shockwaves through the Roanoke community.
In the days following the deadly shootout, law enforcement launched an intensive investigation to bring the person responsible to justice. Their efforts quickly led to the apprehension of a suspect, a man identified as Albert Robertson. Robertson was subsequently tried for the murders of the three officers. After the presentation of evidence and testimony, he was found guilty and received a sentence of life in prison plus an additional 18 years, ensuring he would be held accountable for his actions that resulted in the tragic loss of Patrolman Claude H. Morgan and his fellow officers.
