Patrolman Miles Cunningham

Miles Cunningham

Patrolman Miles Cunningham was shot and killed while investigating a car accident shortly after 12:15 am.

He and his partner were just starting their beats and were standing at the southwest corner of S. Halsted Street and W. Adams Street when they observed the crash. Both officers ran toward a Hudson that had just collided with a Ford coupe at the intersection. Unknown to the two officers, the occupants of the Hudson had just robbed two Federal Reserve messengers moments before. Patrolman Cunningham approached the Hudson as his partner approached the Ford. As the occupants of the Hudson exited their vehicle, one of them opened fire on Patrolman Cunningham, killing him instantly.

The man who fired the shots was Bryan Bolton, a member of the Barker-Karpis Gang. The other occupants of the car were Alvin Karpis, Fred Barker, Doc Barker, "Shotgun" George Ziegler, and Bryan Bolton. Of the gang, Karpis was arrested on May 1st, 1936. Doc Barker and Bryan Bolton were arrested separately on January 8th, 1935. Fred Barker was killed in a shootout with the FBI in Florida on January 16th, 1935. "Shotgun" George Ziegler was murdered by fellow gangsters in Chicago on March 10th, 1934.

Patrolman Cunningham was survived by his wife and two children.

The Barker-Karpis Gang committed violent crimes throughout the American Midwest in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Members and associates of the gang were responsible for the murders of at least ten law enforcement officers.