Officer Charles Russell and Officer Edward Petticord were shot while searching for subjects who had been involved in a drunken fight.

   As the officers stopped two subjects for questioning, one man shot Officer Russell at close range and the other man shot Officer Petticord in the back before they escaped.

   The officers were rushed to City Hospital where Officer Russell died early the following day and Officer Petticord died from the wounds he suffered two days later.

   The 28-year-old suspect who killed Officer Petticord was arrested the next day, later convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death.

   On February 8, 1907 at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, he was the last person to be executed by hanging in the state before electrocution became the method.

   The 36-year-old suspect who killed Officer Russell was shot and killed on August 25, 1908, during a shootout with the Monroe County sheriff and his deputies near Martinsburg, Kentucky.

   Officer Russell was survived by his wife, 12-year-old son and three stepsons. His son later served for 30 years with the agency and retired as a detective sergeant.

   Two of his future grandsons served with the agency, with one retiring as a sergeant after 16 years and the other retiring as a detective sergeant after 20 years of service.

Historical Note • This incident was one of 24 which resulted in the line of duty deaths of two officers.

The responsibilities of the Indianapolis Police Department (1854–2006) are now under the jurisdiction of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.