Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Sam Lucchino was shot and killed from ambush as he returned home at the end of his shift at 10:30 pm. He was walking up the stairs of his home, at 29 East Railroad Street, when two men approached him from behind and one shot him four times in front of his wife who was standing at their front door waiting for him. He was taken to Pittston Hospital where he died approximately one our later.
An investigation revealed that two men had been hired in New Jersey to murder Detective Lucchino as a result of an investigation he had been involved in. Both men were arrested, convicted of his murder, and both died in the electric chair on September 23, 1922.
At the time of their arrest, both suspects said a wealthy rock contractor paid them $3,500 to kill Detective Lucchino. A friend, the two were living with, came forward and supported their statement. At the time of his death Detective Lucchino was investigating the contractor for illegal interference in the strike of 10,000 employees of the Pennsylvania Coal Company. He was arrested, charged with murder, but released three days later when a judge ruled the evidence was insufficient. Authorities then became suspicious their friend when it was learned that he had recently been released from federal prison after serving a five year term for counterfeiting. It was Detective Lucchino's investigation of him that sent him to prison. In 1924 the contractor disappeared. His cloths were found along the shore of Lake Erie. It is believed that friends of the two executed killed him. Right after the executions the other man was forced into hiding after he was shot at several times. In 1928 he was charged in connection with another murder.
Detective Lucchino was survived by his wife, daughter, mother, and three siblings.
Survivors
Detective Lucchino was survived by his wife, daughter, mother, and three siblings.
In Our Keeping
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- 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.
Detective Lucchino served with the Pittston City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Pittston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Lucchino.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Samuel Lucchino 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 Pittston City Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Samuel Lucchino's cause is highlighted.
How Samuel Lucchino Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed 1922
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Samuel Lucchino is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Samuel Lucchino was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Pittston City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
