Officer Ronald L. Tracey, 29, was killed while on duty in Baltimore on July 20, 1981. He was investigating a minor property damage accident at the intersection of Monroe and Baker Streets when, shortly before midnight, an individual in the crowd ambushed him from behind, struggled with him for his service revolver, and shot him twice, in the stomach and the head. Tracey was taken to Lutheran Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He had served six years with the Baltimore City Police Department and was survived by his wife and child.

Police located and arrested a suspect in the early morning hours of July 21, 1981, finding him asleep on the floor of a Northeast Baltimore residence. The person was charged in Tracey’s murder; reports state the suspect was later convicted and sentenced to 45 years in prison and was granted parole in January 2014.