WILLIAM J GROOMS
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Officer Rank: Detective
Memorial Panel: 55-E: 11
Department: Kansas City, Missouri, P.D.
End of Watch: June 17, 1933
Cause: SHOT
Age: 29
Years of Service: 1
Description: Detective Grooms was killed in an ambush while returning escapee Frank Nash, back to Leavenworth Penitentiary. Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd, Adam Richetti and Vernon Miller opened fire on the lawmen, killing four and wounding three. Chief Otto H. Reed, Agent Raymond Caffrey, & Detective Frank E. Hermanson were killed in this incident which became known as the Kansas City or Union Station Massacre. FBI Agents Frank Smith, Joseph Lackey and R. E. Vetterli were wounded but survived. Frank Nash was also killed. Vernon Miller?s body was found, beaten and mutilated by gangsters. Adam Richetti was found guilty on four counts of murder and executed. Pretty Boy Floyd was killed in a shoot-out with FBI agents a year later.
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