Edwin Shanahan

Edwin C. Shanahan, born 1898 in Chicago, IL.  Lived in Chicago, IL. prior to entrance on duty. - Died 10/11/1925 in Chicago, IL. On October 11, 1925, Special Agent Edwin C. Shanahan, the first FBI Agent killed in the line of duty, was murdered by Martin J. Durkin, a car thief who had previously wounded four police officers to avoid capture, in Chicago, Illinois.  Upon receiving word from underworld sources that Durkin was planning to hide a stolen automobile in a certain Chicago garage, SA Shanahan and officers of the Chicago Police Department proceeded to that garage to wait for Durkin to appear.  When Durkin drove the stolen car into the garage, SA Shanahan, who was alone at the time, attempted to arrest him.  However, Durkin swept an automatic pistol from the front seat of the car and shot the Agent in the chest.  SA Shanahan returned fire, but Durkin escaped as his victim collapsed.  Death was almost instantaneous.  Durkin was sentenced to 35 years in prison for SA Shanahan's murder and received an additional 15 years on stolen motor vehicle charges.