Ira Leon Evans

Minneapolis Police Department — Minneapolis, MN

Felonious

End of Watch December 16, 1932

Age 39

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

The Vigil Panel 65 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 49

Incident

Patrolmen Ira Evans and Leo Gorski were shot and killed when they responded to a bank robbery in progress at Central and East Hennepin Avenues. As they exited their patrol car, two of the suspects opened fire on them with a shotgun and machine gun. Both officers were fatally wounded. The suspects escaped but were eventually apprehended. One of the shooters was also responsible for the murder of Marshal John Rose of the Kirksville, Missouri, Police Department on November 17, 1930. The suspect was sentenced to life in prison. In 1934 the suspect was believed to have gone insane and was transferred to a state hospital. Two years later he led an escape of 15 inmates and continued to rob banks. On July 8, 1936, he shot and killed Officer Cal Palmer, of the Enid, Oklahoma, Police Department, after getting drunk in a local bar. Patrolman Evans had been employed with the Minneapolis Police Department for eight years, and was survived by his wife. He is buried in Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Barker-Karpis Gang committed violent crimes throughout the American Midwest in the late 1920s and mid-1930s. Members and associates of the gang were responsible for the murders of more than ten law enforcement officers. Please click here to view all the law enforcement officers killed by the Barker-Karpis Gang.

Survivors

Patrolman Evans had been employed with the Minneapolis Police Department for eight years, and was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-MN-F50C3B4E
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Evans gave the Minneapolis Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Minneapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Evans.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Minneapolis Police Department

Location Minneapolis, MN

Platform Identity mpd.hennepin.mn.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 16, 1932

Tour of Duty 8 yrs

Age 39

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Rifle; Machine gun

Offender Sentenced to life

Patrolman Ira Leon 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 MN, 173 of 293 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 59% of this state's fallen. That is 4.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Minneapolis Police Department, 32 of 50 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 64% of this agency's fallen.

Minneapolis Police Department

of 50 officers

64% Felonious

MN — Statewide

173

of 293 officers

59% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious