Robert Chadwick Wheeler, a 42-year-old San Pablo Police Department officer, was killed on August 4, 1977 while responding to a silent alarm at Musselman’s jewelry store at 1615 23rd Street around noon. The store reportedly had a history of false alarms. Upon entering the shop, Officer Wheeler was shot with a .38 caliber handgun by two men who were committing a robbery.

One suspect, 26 at the time, was captured nearby soon after the shooting, convicted of first-degree murder and given a life sentence. He never identified his accomplice and had been denied parole multiple times, including a 16th denial in 2010; he remained incarcerated as of 2015. The second gunman escaped and was never apprehended.

Wheeler was a Korean War veteran of the United States Marine Corps and had served 18 years in law enforcement. He was survived by his wife and two sons. Does anyone have information about the unidentified accomplice or remember details from the investigation?