Prev Next
Edwin C. Shanahan
Agency patch
Special Agent

Edwin C. Shanahan

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation — Washington, DC
Felonious
United States flag District of Columbia flag
End of Watch October 11, 1925
Age 27
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 115 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 88

Incident

Special Agent Edwin Shanahan was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a car thief in Chicago, Illinois. The suspect was also wanted for the attempted murder of three Chicago police officers and a California police officer whom he had shot during previous arrest attempts. Agent Shanahan and other officers received information that the suspect would was driving a stolen car from New Mexico to a garage at 6238 S Princeton Avenue. Officers and Agent Shanahan set up a stakeou at the garage. When the suspect showed up, all the officers had left to get other officers to relieve them. Agent Shanahan, who was alone at the time, attempted to arrest the suspect and was shot by the man with an automatic pistol. On November 2nd, 1925, the suspect murdered Sergeant Harry Gray, of the Chicago Police Department, as Sergeant Gray attempted to arrest him. On November 27, 1925, Patrolman James Carroll and James Henry of the Chicago Police Department set up a stakeout at a saloon on South Halstead Street. They were sitting in a booth watching a nearby house from a window. Information had been received that the suspect's girlfriend lived in the house and the suspect was on his way there. As they were watching three men entered the saloon and announced a holdup. In a gun battle that resulted, Patrolman Carroll, Patrolman Henry, and a cab driver were killed. A patron was shot and seriously wounded as the three fled. After officials obtained statements from witnesses, they were convinced that one of the robbers was the suspect. After the suspect was apprehended on January 20, 1926, in St, Louis, by FBI agents, police took two of the witnesses to the Cook County Jail to take a look at the suspect. They said he was definitely not one of the three they saw. The three were never apprehended. The suspect was sentenced to 35 years in Illinois Penitentiary for the murders plus 15 years in Leavenworth for the auto theft. Killing an FBI agent was not a federal crime until 1934. The suspect, M

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtnax4fa3ww4cm56nx470
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Edwin. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Agent Shanahan gave the United States Department of Justice 5 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Shanahan.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation
Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdjfbifed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 11, 1925
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 27
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Edwin is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
  4. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1925, 208 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 11th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Edwin was 27. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Edwin had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation has 89 officers remembered here, Edwin among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Special Agent Edwin C. Shanahan

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation · End of Watch October 11, 1925

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 32-W

↑