In the late hours of September 30, 1906, Indianapolis Police Officer Charles J. Russell, a 35-year-old man who had served on the force for five years, was on patrol with his partner, Officer Edward Petticord. Near the intersection of 24th Street and Indianapolis Avenue, they stopped two men for questioning in connection with a drunken fight that had occurred earlier. The encounter quickly turned violent when one of the men drew a weapon and shot Officer Russell at close range.
The second man shot Officer Petticord in the back before both assailants fled the scene.
Both officers were rushed to a local hospital for medical attention. Officer Russell succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving, his life cut tragically short. Officer Petticord fought for two more days before he also passed away from his wounds. The brazen attack on the two officers sent shockwaves through the city and spurred a swift and determined investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The day after the shooting, authorities apprehended the 28-year-old suspect responsible for Officer Petticord's death. He was subsequently convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. On February 8, 1907, he was executed by hanging at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, marking the last time this method of execution would be used in the state before the switch to electrocution. The second suspect, the 36-year-old man who shot Officer Russell, remained at large for nearly two years. His flight from justice came to a violent end on August 25, 1908, when he was killed in a shootout with the Monroe County sheriff and his deputies near Martinsburg, Kentucky. Officer Russell was survived by his wife, his 12-year-old son, and three stepsons. In a lasting tribute to his father's legacy, his son would go on to serve with the Indianapolis Police Department for 30 years, retiring as a detective sergeant.
