Roll of Honor
Othello Lee Stringer
Incident
Location: Indiana Weapon: Handgun Offender: Sentenced to life
Special Agent Lee Stringer was shot and killed when he interrupted several people stealing coal from a train along the Belt Branch railroad tracks just east of Martindale Avenue (modern-day Dr Andrew J Brown Avenue).
The subjects scattered when Special Agent Stringer interrupted them, leaving a wheelbarrow full of coal behind. After replacing the coal onto the train, Special Agent Stringer and his brother, who had accompanied him, were walking the wheelbarrow back to the yard office when someone opened fire on them from behind in the 2100 block of Yandes Street. Special Agent Stringer was shot three times and killed.
Two men, 20 and 22, were arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to life. Both were denied parole in 1935. In 1937 one had his sentence commuted to 18 years. He was told if he behaved he would be released in 1938.
Special Agent Stringer had been sworn in with the Lake Erie and Western Railroad Police Department the previous days but had previously served with the Indianapolis Police Department for one year.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and three young children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-RR-E7483FB9- 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
You barely got started.
Special Agent Stringer gave the Lake Erie and Western Railroad Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Indianapolis community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Stringer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Agent Othello Lee Stringer 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 IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 7.6 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Othello Lee Stringer's cause is highlighted.
How Othello Lee Stringer Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Othello Lee Stringer is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Othello Lee Stringer was killed by handgun.