Detective George L. Williams

George L. Williams

Detective George Williams was shot and killed in a gun battle with five men at 16th Street and South Street. Detective Williams, the city’s only black detective, came upon a fracas in a bar and was trying to arrest the men when one opened fire on him.

Detective Williams had been a star of the Cuban Giants of the Negro Baseball League. He was the first black officer killed in the line of duty.

The principal killer in this case, a 22-year-year old male was executed for the crime on November 1st, 1920.

Detective Williams had served with the Philadelphia Police Department for 25 years. He was survived by his wife and five children.