Patrolman Martin Emmett Darcy Jr., 52, was fatally shot on September 27, 1982, while on patrol with the Chicago Police Department’s 22nd District – Morgan Park. Darcy, a 27-year veteran who had recently returned to patrol duties, and his partner Edward Ryan were pursuing a robbery suspect after a holdup at the Southtown Health Food Store, 2148 West 95th Street. The suspect, identified as Aaron Washington (also known as Jesse Lee Anderson), fled in a gold Chevrolet, abandoned the car, and ran into a nearby home where he shot the resident, Kathleen Frantz, in the shoulder before escaping through the back.

As Darcy moved through a gangway between houses, Washington emerged and shot him once; Darcy was taken to Little Company of Mary Hospital and pronounced dead at 1:30 p.m. Washington then shot Patrolman Jerry Johnson, causing severe injuries and later engaged officers in a gunfight in which Washington was shot and killed at the scene. Darcy left a wife, Patricia, five children and stepchildren, and a brother Michael who also served on the department; his career included 11 Honorable Mentions and 3 Complimentary Letters.

Does anyone have memories of Officer Darcy, the Southtown Health Food Store incident, or the Beverly neighborhood at that time?