Headstone of John Mullen
U.S. Army · United States United States

John Mullen

1921

John J. Mullen served the U.S. Army.

How He Died
Manner Homicide
Cause Gunshot wound
Mechanism Firearm
What Happened
Patrolman John J. Mullen, of the 29th Precinct, was fatally shot at 12:57 a.m. on January 3rd, dying at 3:50 a.m., the next day at the Lincoln Gardens, Wells Street and Lincoln Avenue, by a man he tried to arrest. Officer Mullen responded to a disturbance of an intoxicated man in a cafe. Officer Mullen placed one offender under arrest for threatening a patron with a gun. The second offender approached Officer Mullen from behind and shot him. All assailants were indicted by the Grand Jury. On March 26, 1921, two were acquitted by the judge. On March 26, 1921, the shooter was sentenced to life imprisonment at Joliet Penitentiary. The shooters conviction was based on evidence provided by another man. The killer's friends vowed they would get him. On March 19, 1923, his mutilated body, with hands cut off, was found buried in the snow near Geneva.
Survivors
Patrolman Mullen, a WWI Army veteran, was survived by a wife and child and is buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery.
Photograph of John Mullen
Photograph of John Mullen
Service Record
U.S. Army
Also Served
Chicago Police Department
Patrolman
In Our Keeping
Permanent identifier neuraspine_01krbxtn6c5e5aas4vc95dq9fg
Record added August 2, 2026 neuraweb.nw
Stewarded by neuraweb.nw
Last updated August 2, 2026

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