Incident
Patrolman John Evans succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained two days earlier while attempting to arrest a man he had just witnessed punch another man outside of a saloon on 6th Street, between Penn Avenue and Fort Duquesne Way. When Patrolman Evans rushed to the suspect to arrest him he was shot once in the stomach. The suspect fought with another Patrolman at the scene and shot the other Patrolman in the ear and then fled the scene to a nearby hotel. He was picked up 30 minutes later after a group of people who witnessed the shooting led other Pittsburgh Officers to him. Patrolman Evans was taken to a nearby hospital and then to his home where he succumbed to his wounds on the evening of August 6. The suspect was sentenced to death but committed suicide before the sentence was carried out.
Survivors
Patrolman Evans served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for six months and was survived by his parents, and siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-PA-EB4FB86A- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
141 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Evans served with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrolman John F. Evans is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In PA, 597 of 1,261 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.3% of this state's fallen. That is 6.9 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, 45 of 101 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 44.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John F. Evans's cause is highlighted.
How John F. Evans Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide in jail
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John F. Evans is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John F. Evans was killed by handgun; .44 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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