Officer Wilbert J. Downey, badge number 39, was shot and killed by one of 5 assailants armed with weapons, who were robbing the Clark Gas Station at 8341 Olive St. Rd. in University City. He was only 34 years of age.
Officer Downey interrupted five men attempting a gas-station robbery. When Officer Downey entered the gas-station he tried to subdue the suspect armed with a 22 caliber weapon. The suspect shot Officer Downey once before gaining control of Officer Downey's service weapon and then killed Officer Downey.
The shooting suspect was apprehended the next day in St. Louis by the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department and charged with murder. He was sentenced to the death penalty, however, the sentence was appealed and overturned. The other four suspects were apprehended and sentenced to time in prison.
Officer Downey was the first officer to be killed in the "Line of Duty" in the history of the University City Police Department.
Wilbert (Bill) Downey, Patrolman University City Police Department, suddenly Dec. 12, 1969. Beloved husband of Marlene (nee Menefee) Downey, dear son of Genevieve and the late Thomas Downey. dear brother of Thomas, Robert, Jerry, Theodore Downey, Mary Dyer, Pat Smith, and Kathy Long and the late Genevieve Purcell, son in law, brother in law, uncle, and nephew.
Funeral from ORTMANN's 9222 Lackland Rd, Overland Monday, Dec. 15, 10 am to All Soul's Church. Interment Sacred Heart Cemetery, Festus. MO.
Officer Downey interrupted five men attempting a gas-station robbery. When Officer Downey entered the gas-station he tried to subdue the suspect armed with a 22 caliber weapon. The suspect shot Officer Downey once before gaining control of Officer Downey's service weapon and then killed Officer Downey.
The shooting suspect was apprehended the next day in St. Louis by the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department and charged with murder. He was sentenced to the death penalty, however, the sentence was appealed and overturned. The other four suspects were apprehended and sentenced to time in prison.
Officer Downey was the first officer to be killed in the "Line of Duty" in the history of the University City Police Department.
Wilbert (Bill) Downey, Patrolman University City Police Department, suddenly Dec. 12, 1969. Beloved husband of Marlene (nee Menefee) Downey, dear son of Genevieve and the late Thomas Downey. dear brother of Thomas, Robert, Jerry, Theodore Downey, Mary Dyer, Pat Smith, and Kathy Long and the late Genevieve Purcell, son in law, brother in law, uncle, and nephew.
Funeral from ORTMANN's 9222 Lackland Rd, Overland Monday, Dec. 15, 10 am to All Soul's Church. Interment Sacred Heart Cemetery, Festus. MO.
Officer Wilbert J. Downey, badge number 39, was shot and killed by one of 5 assailants armed with weapons, who were robbing the Clark Gas Station at 8341 Olive St. Rd. in University City. He was only 34 years of age.
Officer Downey interrupted five men attempting a gas-station robbery. When Officer Downey entered the gas-station he tried to subdue the suspect armed with a 22 caliber weapon. The suspect shot Officer Downey once before gaining control of Officer Downey's service weapon and then killed Officer Downey.
The shooting suspect was apprehended the next day in St. Louis by the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department and charged with murder. He was sentenced to the death penalty, however, the sentence was appealed and overturned. The other four suspects were apprehended and sentenced to time in prison.
Officer Downey was the first officer to be killed in the "Line of Duty" in the history of the University City Police Department.
Wilbert (Bill) Downey, Patrolman University City Police Department, suddenly Dec. 12, 1969. Beloved husband of Marlene (nee Menefee) Downey, dear son of Genevieve and the late Thomas Downey. dear brother of Thomas, Robert, Jerry, Theodore Downey, Mary Dyer, Pat Smith, and Kathy Long and the late Genevieve Purcell, son in law, brother in law, uncle, and nephew.
Funeral from ORTMANN's 9222 Lackland Rd, Overland Monday, Dec. 15, 10 am to All Soul's Church. Interment Sacred Heart Cemetery, Festus. MO.
Officer Downey interrupted five men attempting a gas-station robbery. When Officer Downey entered the gas-station he tried to subdue the suspect armed with a 22 caliber weapon. The suspect shot Officer Downey once before gaining control of Officer Downey's service weapon and then killed Officer Downey.
The shooting suspect was apprehended the next day in St. Louis by the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department and charged with murder. He was sentenced to the death penalty, however, the sentence was appealed and overturned. The other four suspects were apprehended and sentenced to time in prison.
Officer Downey was the first officer to be killed in the "Line of Duty" in the history of the University City Police Department.
Wilbert (Bill) Downey, Patrolman University City Police Department, suddenly Dec. 12, 1969. Beloved husband of Marlene (nee Menefee) Downey, dear son of Genevieve and the late Thomas Downey. dear brother of Thomas, Robert, Jerry, Theodore Downey, Mary Dyer, Pat Smith, and Kathy Long and the late Genevieve Purcell, son in law, brother in law, uncle, and nephew.
Funeral from ORTMANN's 9222 Lackland Rd, Overland Monday, Dec. 15, 10 am to All Soul's Church. Interment Sacred Heart Cemetery, Festus. MO.
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