Sergeant Richard Davenport Jr., 54, was a veteran Chicago Police Department officer with more than 25 years of service. On the night of August 4, 1986, while off duty, he intervened in an attempted auto theft involving his son at 93rd Street and Stony Island Avenue. Davenport identified himself as an officer and began questioning five youths; as he searched the group a fight erupted between one youth and his son.

During the confrontation, 18-year-old Dwayne Thomas produced a .22 caliber pistol and fired four rounds. Sergeant Davenport was struck three times, in the mouth, chest, and left calf, and later died at South Chicago Community Hospital at 11:27 p.m. Thomas was arrested and charged with murder but was acquitted on June 15, 1987. Another 18-year-old faced aggravated assault with a firearm charges; three others were released without charges.

Davenport’s death is recorded as a line-of-duty death and he is memorialized on the Illinois Police Officers Memorial Wall and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall. If anyone knew Sergeant Davenport or witnessed the incident, please come forward with information.