Marshal Roy L. Frakes was 30 when he was killed on July 20, 1992, in Chicago, Illinois. Frakes, a Deputy U.S. Marshal with one year of service after a background in private security, was shot twice and fatally wounded during a shootout outside the Everett M. Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after a prisoner attempted to escape.

The prisoner had removed his handcuffs with a smuggled key, assaulted a guard in the courthouse basement and taken her revolver before encountering Marshal Frakes. Special Deputy Marshal Harry Belluomini later confronted the prisoner and was also mortally wounded; the prisoner was seriously injured and subsequently committed suicide. An investigation found the handcuff key had been passed from another inmate, who was later convicted of perjury and given a 20-year sentence for involvement in the escape attempt.

The incident prompted a review and tightening of courthouse security. Frakes and Belluomini were honored posthumously with memorials and dedications. If anyone knew Marshal Frakes or has information about the events that day, please share what is known.