Louis Shirley
1923
Louis L. Shirley.
How He Died
Manner
Homicide
Cause
Gunshot wound
Mechanism
Firearm
What Happened
Location: Indiana
Weapon: Gun; Unknown type
Offender: Convicted of manslaughter
Detective Louis Shirley was shot and killed while patrolling the New York Central rail yards in downtown Elkhart, Indiana.
He was shot in the back twice when he interrupted the burglary of railroad cars near the passenger terminal. Detective Shirley had voluntarily started his shift 30 minutes early but was shot at 5:23 pm, only 23 minutes later.
A suspect was arrested but convicted only of manslaughter and sentenced to a maximum of two to 21 years in prison. The suspect was later sentenced to life in prison after a conviction of being a habitual offender.
Detective Shirley was a United States WWI veteran and had served with the New York Central Railroad Police Department for three years.
He is buried at Rice Cemetery in Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana.
Detective Shirley was a United States WWI veteran and had served with the New York Central Railroad Police Department for three years.
Weapon: Gun; Unknown type
Offender: Convicted of manslaughter
Detective Louis Shirley was shot and killed while patrolling the New York Central rail yards in downtown Elkhart, Indiana.
He was shot in the back twice when he interrupted the burglary of railroad cars near the passenger terminal. Detective Shirley had voluntarily started his shift 30 minutes early but was shot at 5:23 pm, only 23 minutes later.
A suspect was arrested but convicted only of manslaughter and sentenced to a maximum of two to 21 years in prison. The suspect was later sentenced to life in prison after a conviction of being a habitual offender.
Detective Shirley was a United States WWI veteran and had served with the New York Central Railroad Police Department for three years.
He is buried at Rice Cemetery in Elkhart, Elkhart County, Indiana.
Detective Shirley was a United States WWI veteran and had served with the New York Central Railroad Police Department for three years.
Survivors
He was survived by his widowed mother.
Service Record
Also Served
New York Central Railroad Police Department
Detective
In Our Keeping
Permanent identifier
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Record added
August 2, 2026
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Last updated
August 2, 2026
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