Police Officer Frank X. Siemion

Frank X. Siemion

Officer Siemion was shot and killed as he and several other officers investigated a burglary call at a liquor store at 6800 E. Lafayette Street. Officer Siemion, the first officer to enter the building, was shot by a 19-year-old youth.

Officer Siemon had climbed security scaffolding and entered the store through a window. He encountered one of the bandits in a vacant apartment about the store and handcuffed him. He then kicked open the door to a bathroom where a second suspect was hiding. The man second suspect fired one shot, which struck Officer Siemion in this bulletproof vest but also grazed his upper seam and hit his badge. The bullet penetrated Officer Siemion's upper chest and deflected downward toward his heart. Responding officers were unable to force the door open and had to climb into the damaged window and pass their fellow officer down through a human chain to a waiting window. He died during surgery five hours later.

The suspect, along with two accomplices, were apprehended at the scene and charged with Officer Siemion's murder.