10‑33, SHOTS FIRED, is a compilation of Washington Post articles researched and prepared by retired Detective Sergeant Dave Richardson.
POLICE INVOLVED SHOOTINGS, PART TWO:
INVOLVING OFFICERS RICK PEARSON; JEROME JONES; ALBERT G. MANFREDI; MARTIN L. MANFREDI; B.C. KUELING; MARCO F. KITTRELL, MICHAEL G. VINCENT; TOMMIE LAWRENCE; UEL M. (GALES) GAILE; WILLIAM GRIFFIN; JAMES TARANTELLA; L.O. TOMPKINS.
OFFICER RICK PEARSON
PARTIAL WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED AUGUST 21, 1982, PAGE A11
ONE WOUNDED IN STRUGGLE WITH POLICE.
John D. Allen, 36, of an unknown address, was shot in the left shoulder following an altercation with Officer Rick Pearson. Police said Pearson was called to 81 New York Ave. NW to calm a domestic disagreement. Soon after Pearson arrived, Allen started arguing with the policeman and took his service revolver from the officer during a struggle, police said. Pearson took the weapon back and shot Allen once as he continued to wrestle Pearson for the gun, police said.
Allen was taken to Washington Hospital Center where he was listed in critical condition last night. Pearson, who suffered facial injuries and a cut on the hand, was treated at Washington Hospital Center and released. Pearson is assigned to the 1st District.
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OFFICER JEROME JONES
WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED JANUARY 5, 1972, PAGE A10
D.C. POLICEMAN SHOT DURING HOLDUP TRY.
An off‑duty metropolitan policeman was shot and wounded in front of his Northeast apartment building last night during a struggle with two youths who tried to hold him up, police reported.
The policeman fired two shots at the pair as they fled, police said, and a wounded suspect was later arrested near the scene.
Officer Jerome Jones, 24, a foot patrolman assigned to the ? Police district, was shot once in the face with a small caliber pistol by one of the youths, and was reported in fair condition last night at the Washington Hospital Center.
Insp. Charles J. Corcoran said Jones, who was in civilian clothes, was about to enter his apartment building in the 2900 block of 7th Street NE about 7 p.m. when two youths, one armed with a pistol grabbed him and demanded money.
Jones said he drew his service revolver, announced he was a policeman and attempted to arrest the pair. One of the youths grabbed for Jones’ revolver. In the ensuing struggle with both youths, Jones was knocked to the ground and shot, police said. Jones was able to knock the pistol from the gunman’s hand and the youths fled, Corcoran said.
Jones regained his feet seconds later and fired twice as the pair ran north along 7th Street, police said.
Moments later, an 18‑year‑old Southeast youth with a bullet wound in the right hand was arrested in the 700 block of Jackson Street, about four blocks from the attempted robbery, police said.
The suspect, identified as Alvin Wright, 3912 Wheeler Rd. SE., was in good condition at Providence Hospital. He was charged with assault with intent to kill a policeman and assault with intent to commit robbery.
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OFFICER ALBERT G. MANFREDI
WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED SEPTEMBER 25, 1960, PAGE A3
OFFICER CHASES, SHOOTS HOUSEBREAKING SUSPECT.
An off‑duty 2nd Precinct policeman shot a suspected housebreaker in the leg last night in an alley in the rear of 4621 4th st. nw. after a fight and chase through half a block.
Policeman Albert G. Manfredi was summoned from his home a block away when Brenda Hyatt, 20, of 307 Decatur st. nw. saw a man trying to get in the front window of her apartment.
Manfredi arrived and gave chase to John Muller, 46, no listed address, police said. Manfredi caught up and the two began to scuffle. When Muller tried to hit him with a brick, Manfredi told 6th Precinct Police, he shot him with his .38 colt revolver.
Muller was admitted to Providence Hospital with a bullet wound in the right thigh.
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OFFICER MARTIN L. MANFREDI
PARTIAL WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED MARCH 21, 1980, PAGE C6
2 OFFICERS WOUNDED IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS
Two D.C. police officers were shot and wounded last night in separate incidents, one of them apparently an accident, and the other apparently the result of a misunderstanding.
In the shooting that appeared to stem from a misunderstanding at a delicatessen in Northwest Washington, police arrested the store operator and charged him with assault with a dangerous weapon.
Officer Martin Manfredi of the 4th District, and his partner, went to Knight’s Delicatessen, at 221 Upshur St. NW, about 11 p.m. in response to a call about disorderly persons.
After finding the store closed, the officers checked the door. As they were returning to their patrol car, a shot rang out, and Officer Manfredi was struck in the left thigh.
Manfredi was taken to the Washington Hospital Center, where he was reported in good condition early today.
Shortly after the shooting, police said they arrested Hermonth Shiimi and charged him in the incident. Investigators said they found a bullet hole in a wood panel at the store indicating that a shot had been fired from within with a small caliber weapon.
According to one police account, the store owner said he had been harassed by juveniles earlier yesterday and may have believed the youths had returned and were rattling his door. Police said they had received at least three complaint calls from the store before the shooting incident.
No arrests were made in connection with any of the disorderly conduct complaints, police said.
(THE OTHER SHOOTING INVOLVED AN OFF‑DUTY OFFICER CLEANING HIS WEAPON.)
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OFFICER B.C. KUELING
WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED SEPTEMBER 13, 1915, PAGE 3
SURVIVES POLICEMAN’S SHOT.
CASE STILL CRITICAL, BUT PATROLMAN KUEHLING IS NOT BLAMED.
Richard Miller, who was shot and seriously wounded Saturday night when, according to the police, he resisted arrest by Policeman B.C. Kuehling, of the Fourth precinct, is in a critical condition at Casualty Hospital though hopes are held for his recovery. In an operation by physicians immediately after he was taken there, a bullet was removed from his left side near the hip.
Kuehling reported he had arrested Miller at Eleventh and G streets southwest on a charge of unlawful assembly. Miller, he reported, insisted on holding his baton and drawing him along as he resisted him. Kuehling says he warned him before he drew his revolver and shot.
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OFFICERS MARCO F. KITTRELL, MICHAEL G. VINCENT
WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED AUGUST 15, 1980, PAGE B3
D.C. POLICEMAN WOUNDS SE MAN ARMED WITH GUN.
A D.C. policeman shot and critically wounded a Washington man last night after the man allegedly fired a pistol at two officers in a hallway at a southeast apartment building.
The victim was identified as Leon W. Ruffin, 54, of 2 17th St. SE, the scene of the shooting. Investigators said he was struck by a police bullet that passed through his throat and lodged in his brain.
Investigators said Seventh District Officers Marco F. Kittrell and Michael G. Vincent had just driven away from D.C. General Hospital about 9:30 p.m. when they saw two men, one armed with a handgun, the other with a baseball bat, arguing in front of the 17th Street address.
When the officers approached, officials said, the man with the gun fled into a building. The policemen followed and shouted to the man to drop the gun, officials said, but he turned and fired at the officers. Kittrell and Vincent returned the fire, wounding the man, the officials said.
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OFFICER TOMMIE LAWRENCE
WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED JANUARY 4, 1970, PAGE 8
POLICEMAN SHOT 3 TIMES, 3 ROBBERY SUSPECTS SEIZED.
A metropolitan police officer was shot three times last night while attempting to halt four men fleeing a Northeast grocery store after an attempted robbery.
Officer Tommie Lawrence, 27, was in critical condition at the Washington Hospital Center after an incident that saw four suspects and four policemen exchange fire in front of the A&P store at 1800 Hamlin St. NE.
Three of the four suspects have been arrested and charged with armed robbery, assault on a police officer with a weapon and assault with a deadly weapon. Police were looking for the fourth.
Arrested at the scene was Ernest Mack, 22, listed at 640 11th St. NE, Apt. 1. Arrested shortly after the incident at 18th and Irving Streets NE was Steven R. Williams, 19, listed at 1285 Oates St. NE. Arrested about 30 minutes later was Harold J. Price, 18, listed at 1237 Delafield Pl. NE. Price is a private in the Army stationed at Ft. Bragg, N.C., police said.
Money taken in the holdup attempt was recovered at the scene, police reported.
Police said four armed men entered the store shortly before 9 p.m., closing time. Two men stood guard at the door, another walked up to checker Michael Shipe, 20, and ordered him to empty the contents of the cash register into a paper bag, and the fourth approached an unarmed store guard, Thomas E. Hicks, 23.
After the register had been emptied, police said, two bandits approached the guard and ordered him to take them to the manager.
At this point, two 5th precinct patrolmen entered the store on a routine check. One of the bandits standing at the entrance accosted Officers Robert L. Lomax and Robert L. Bowman.
Meanwhile, a passing motorist saw the four men enter the store and alerted a nearby squad car, occupied by Officers Lawrence and B.R. Bailey.
They approached the front of the store as the bandits were fleeing, followed by the two patrolmen inside. Bowman, who unlike Lomax, had not been disarmed, opened fire. In the exchange that followed, three bullets hit Lawrence—one passed through the neck, others lodged in his left shoulder and back.
During the exchange, a shotgun held by one of the bandits was dropped.
(19 YEAR OLD CORTEZ D. WEST, THE FOURTH SUSPECT, WAS ARRESTED TWO DAYS LATER.)
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OFFICER UEL M. (GALES) GAILE
WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED JULY 19, 1933, PAGE 1
TRIO WOUNDED IN GUN BATTLE; ALL MAY DIE.
NINTH STREET POOL PARLOR “SHOT UP;” POLICEMAN ENDS FUSILLADE.
Three downtown Ninth street habitues, one of them an innocent bystander, were mortally wounded late last night in a fierce gun duel at the Academy Pool Parlor, 744 Ninth street northwest.
Detective Sergt. John C. Dalglish, of the Homicide Squad, early today attributed the bullet fusillade to a “whisky quarrel” between two of the wounded men, Frank Snow, 30, and Charles McAvoy, 36. The wounded bystander was said to be Charles Neil, 27, of 1233 Twelfth street northwest.
The battle was brought to an abrupt end, Dalglish said when Private U.M. Gales (Gaile), First Precinct, dashed into the bullet‑swept poolroom. Dalglish said McAvoy was standing on his feet with a smoking revolver in his hand, according to witnesses.
FIRED AT POLICEMAN
The detective declared McAvoy fired several times at the policeman who returned a like volley. Whether the policeman’s shots felled McVoy could not be learned.
By this time, a dozen or so poolroom hangers‑on had fled, said Dalglish, reconstructing the scene. Most of them dashed to a nearby rooming house at 917 H street northwest, he continued.
A half‑dozen policemen surrounded the boarding house, and from the apartment of Mr and Mrs Frank Pope herded eight men and several women to police headquarters.
Ninth street from Pennsylvania avenue to New York avenue by this time was a vortex of excitement. News of the gun fusillade ran like lightning through every restaurant and dance hall. Shrieking ambulance and police cars added to the bedlam.
SPRAYED WITH BULLETS.
Dalglish said he believed the quarrel had its inception after a drink fest at the Pope apartment. Threats and counter threats were passed, it was said.
The pool parlor’s walls were sprayed with dozens of bullets. Furrows were plowed on the billiard tables and several windows were smashed.
Early today Emergency Hospital physicians indicated they held scant hope for any of the men’s recovery.
Homicide detectives early this morning were still grilling the group picked up at the rooming house, but announced they had not yet cleared up the motives for the quarrel.
(FRANK SNOW AND THE INNOCENT BYSTANDER, CHARLES NEIL, DIED OF THEIR WOUNDS. MCAVOY SURVIVED AND WAS CHARGED WITH MURDER.
THE CORRECT SPELLING OF OFFICER GALES’ NAME IS UEL M. “GAILE.” THE POST USED BOTH SPELLINGS IN SEVERAL SEPARATE ARTICLES ABOUT THE OFFICER OVER THE YEARS. GAILE LATER DIED IN A LINE OF DUTY ACCIDENT.)
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OFFICER WILLIAM GRIFFIN
WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED SEPTEMBER 20, 1942, PAGE 10
AUXILIARY OFFICER SHOOTS THUG SUSPECT.
It wasn’t the address but the occupant of 1313 Thirteenth Street Northwest, who jinxed a pair of bandit suspects early yesterday.
The resident, William Griffin, 46, an auxiliary policeman, shot down one of the men and aided in the capture of the other after they fled past his home following an attempted holdup.
Griffin, a mechanic, had just returned home after a tour of duty at the Second Precinct and was having a last smoke before retiring, when he heard shots and footsteps in the alley behind his house.
Running outside, he encountered Percival Hamilton, Negro, of 320 U Street Northwest, who was driving an automobile in pursuit of two men. Griffin joined him and at Twelfth and O Streets Northwest, fired one shot from his .38‑caliber revolver. The bullet struck one man in the chest and induced the other to stop.
The wounded man, a 21‑year‑old laborer, was taken to Gallinger Hospital and placed under guard. His condition is not believed critical.
The second suspect was held at the Second Precinct Station last night for investigation in connection with recent holdups.
David Lewis, of 927 O Street Northwest, and Julius Baltimore, address unknown, both Negroes, said they were in Logan Circle when two men accosted them and attempted to rifle their pockets.
Lewis threw a bottle at one man and started to run only to be chased by his assailant.
(AUXILIARY POLICEMEN WERE RESERVE POLICEMEN. AT THE BEGINNING OF WORLD WAR II, 50 WERE GIVEN POLICE POWERS AS “DEFENSE GUARDS” AT A SALARY OF $1,320 A YEAR. THEY WERE GIVEN LIMITED POLICE TRAINING, UNIFORMS, SERVICE REVOLVERS AND BATONS. THEIR DUTIES INCLUDED GUARDING BRIDGES, RESERVOIRS AND OTHER SENSITIVE SITES.)
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OFFICER JAMES TARANTELLA
WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED MARCH 2, 1982, PAGE C5
D.C. OFFICER SHOOTS, WOUNDS 17‑YEAR‑OLD GIRL IN NORTHWEST.
A D.C. policeman shot and wounded a 17‑year‑old girl last night when she allegedly lunged at the officer with a knife as he and other officers were attempting to arrest two men at a Northwest rooming house, police officials reported.
Officials said the girl was shot once in the right shoulder by Officer James Tarantella shortly before 9 p.m. inside 1009 O St. NW. The girl, who has been charged with assault on a police officer while armed, was listed in serious condition at Washington Hospital Center early today with a wound to the right shoulder.
Tarantella and three other officers, all assigned to the Morals Division, attempted to gain entry to the rooming house after a man had been seen dragging a woman inside, officials said. The officers were challenged at the doorway by a man whom they arrested after a brief scuffle, and then a second man who threatened them with a knife, officials said.
As the second man was being arrested, officials said, the girl appeared and attempted to stab Tarantella, who fired one shot from his service revolver.
Police said Charles Jones, 22, was charged in the incident with assault on a police officer. His brother Renaldo, 18, was charged with assault on a police officer while armed. Both suspects are residents of the rooming house.
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OFFICER L.O. TOMPKINS
WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 1928, PAGE 20
MAN, POLICEMAN SHOT, GIVEN 95 DAYS IN JAIL.
A jail sentence of 60 days and a fine of $55, or 35 additional days, was imposed on George Hargraves, colored, 1241‑A Carrollburg street southwest, who was recently shot by Policeman L.O. Tompkins, of the Traffic Bureau, by Judge Isaac R. Hitt yesterday in Traffic Court. He was convicted of three traffic offenses. Police officials conducted an investigation into the shooting.
Hargraves, it was charged, drove through a safety zone at Wisconsin avenue and M street northwest, and narrowly missed striking down three persons and the policeman. Commandeering a passing machine, Tompkins gave chase and after Hargraves abandoned his car, a foot race ensued.
Tompkins declared that the fugitive threw a brick at him while running and he fired, wounding Hargraves in the hip. A jury trial was demanded by the accused on a charge of assaulting Tompkins.
(RESULTS OF THE A.P.O. TRIAL WAS NOT FOUND.)
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