On Easter Sunday, April 17, 1949, George A. McIntyre, age 25, a World War II veteran, goes berserk, kills three law-enforcement officers and a taxicab driver, and wounds two officers and a bystander during a 40-minute gun battle in Pullman, Washington, before he himself is shot and killed.
The incident, known regionally as "The Easter Massacre," is Pullman's most terrible day and one of the deadliest killing sprees in Washington state history.
At 3:55 p.m. Officer Claar spotted McIntyre's pickup truck at Harper's Union 76 Service Station, 405 E Main Street. Claar had a warrant for McIntyre's arrest, issued earlier in the day by a Whitman County Judge for violation of probation. It was based on Kershaw's complaint to Chief Ricketts about his altercation with McIntyre earlier in the day.
Claar got out of his police car and told McIntyre he had a warrant for his arrest. When McIntyre refused to accompany him to the police station, Claar returned to the vehicle for his nightstick.
Meanwhile, McIntyre retrieved a .22 caliber pistol from inside his pickup truck, and when Claar returned, shot him three times in the chest. As Claar slumped to the pavement, he drew his service revolver and fired two shots at his assailant. McIntyre, however, had dodged to safety behind Claar's police car and was not hit. As Claar lay dying, McIntyre picked up the nightstick and clubbed Claar several times on the head.
Leaving his wife and two children behind, McIntyre jumped into his pickup truck and sped away.
An ambulance rushed Claar to Finch Memorial Hospital, but he was dead on arrival.
The incident, known regionally as "The Easter Massacre," is Pullman's most terrible day and one of the deadliest killing sprees in Washington state history.
At 3:55 p.m. Officer Claar spotted McIntyre's pickup truck at Harper's Union 76 Service Station, 405 E Main Street. Claar had a warrant for McIntyre's arrest, issued earlier in the day by a Whitman County Judge for violation of probation. It was based on Kershaw's complaint to Chief Ricketts about his altercation with McIntyre earlier in the day.
Claar got out of his police car and told McIntyre he had a warrant for his arrest. When McIntyre refused to accompany him to the police station, Claar returned to the vehicle for his nightstick.
Meanwhile, McIntyre retrieved a .22 caliber pistol from inside his pickup truck, and when Claar returned, shot him three times in the chest. As Claar slumped to the pavement, he drew his service revolver and fired two shots at his assailant. McIntyre, however, had dodged to safety behind Claar's police car and was not hit. As Claar lay dying, McIntyre picked up the nightstick and clubbed Claar several times on the head.
Leaving his wife and two children behind, McIntyre jumped into his pickup truck and sped away.
An ambulance rushed Claar to Finch Memorial Hospital, but he was dead on arrival.
On Easter Sunday, April 17, 1949, George A. McIntyre, age 25, a World War II veteran, goes berserk, kills three law-enforcement officers and a taxicab driver, and wounds two officers and a bystander during a 40-minute gun battle in Pullman, Washington, before he himself is shot and killed.
The incident, known regionally as "The Easter Massacre," is Pullman's most terrible day and one of the deadliest killing sprees in Washington state history.
At 3:55 p.m. Officer Claar spotted McIntyre's pickup truck at Harper's Union 76 Service Station, 405 E Main Street. Claar had a warrant for McIntyre's arrest, issued earlier in the day by a Whitman County Judge for violation of probation. It was based on Kershaw's complaint to Chief Ricketts about his altercation with McIntyre earlier in the day.
Claar got out of his police car and told McIntyre he had a warrant for his arrest. When McIntyre refused to accompany him to the police station, Claar returned to the vehicle for his nightstick.
Meanwhile, McIntyre retrieved a .22 caliber pistol from inside his pickup truck, and when Claar returned, shot him three times in the chest. As Claar slumped to the pavement, he drew his service revolver and fired two shots at his assailant. McIntyre, however, had dodged to safety behind Claar's police car and was not hit. As Claar lay dying, McIntyre picked up the nightstick and clubbed Claar several times on the head.
Leaving his wife and two children behind, McIntyre jumped into his pickup truck and sped away.
An ambulance rushed Claar to Finch Memorial Hospital, but he was dead on arrival.
The incident, known regionally as "The Easter Massacre," is Pullman's most terrible day and one of the deadliest killing sprees in Washington state history.
At 3:55 p.m. Officer Claar spotted McIntyre's pickup truck at Harper's Union 76 Service Station, 405 E Main Street. Claar had a warrant for McIntyre's arrest, issued earlier in the day by a Whitman County Judge for violation of probation. It was based on Kershaw's complaint to Chief Ricketts about his altercation with McIntyre earlier in the day.
Claar got out of his police car and told McIntyre he had a warrant for his arrest. When McIntyre refused to accompany him to the police station, Claar returned to the vehicle for his nightstick.
Meanwhile, McIntyre retrieved a .22 caliber pistol from inside his pickup truck, and when Claar returned, shot him three times in the chest. As Claar slumped to the pavement, he drew his service revolver and fired two shots at his assailant. McIntyre, however, had dodged to safety behind Claar's police car and was not hit. As Claar lay dying, McIntyre picked up the nightstick and clubbed Claar several times on the head.
Leaving his wife and two children behind, McIntyre jumped into his pickup truck and sped away.
An ambulance rushed Claar to Finch Memorial Hospital, but he was dead on arrival.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
