Police Officer John R. J. Block

John R. J. Block

Officer John Block was shot and killed by one of three youths after he stopped them in their car after they robbed two Charles St. bus drivers. He was removing the license tags when he was shot on Hanover Street and Belle Grove Road.

One 21-year-old suspect, who was the gunman, shot and killed himself as law enforcement officers closed in on him at a farm near Buckhannon, West Virginia, four days later. Three days after his suicide, another 19-year-old suspect was apprehended in Orlando, Florida. He was convicted of two counts of robbery and sentenced to 18 years. A murder charge was dropped. He was recommended for parole in 1943. The third suspect was never apprehended.

Officer Block had served with the Baltimore City Police Department for 13 years. He was survived by his wife.