Incident
Police Officer Donald Sager was shot and killed, and his partner was seriously wounded as they sat in their patrol car writing a report in the 1200 block of Myrtle Avenue. Three men, members of the radical Black Panthers, walked up behind and on each side of the patrol car and opened fire with automatic handguns. Officer Sager was killed instantly, and his partner was hit four times. Two of the suspects were apprehended near the scene an hour later. The third suspect was apprehended two days later. In 1972, all three suspects were found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. One died in prison in November 1980. Another was released from prison in May 2010. The third subject was released from prison on March 4th, 2014. Officer Sager was a United States Army Korean War veteran and had served with the Baltimore Police Department for 12 years. He was survived by his wife and child. The Black Panther Party was a black nationalist and Marxist revolutionary political and militant organization active in the United States between 1966 and 1982. Members and former members of the group were responsible for the murders of over 20 law enforcement officers and the wounding of dozens more across the nation. Please click here to visit all the law enforcement officers who have died as a result of the Black Panther Party's violent activism.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and child.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-MD-144020CE- 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
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Sager gave the Baltimore City Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Baltimore community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Donald W. Sager served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Donald W. Sager 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 MD, 195 of 377 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 51.7% of this state's fallen. That is 2.5 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Baltimore Police Dept., 80 of 151 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald W. Sager's cause is highlighted.
How Donald W. Sager Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Donald W. Sager is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Donald W. Sager was killed by handgun; .38 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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