Officer Donald Sager was shot and killed and his partner was seriously wounded as they sat in their patrol car writing a report. Three men, members of the radical Black Panthers, walked up behind and on each side of the patrol car and opened fire with automatic handguns. Officer Sager was killed instantly and his partner was hit four times. Two of the suspects were apprehended near the scene an hour later. The third suspect was apprehended two days later.
In 1972 all three suspects were found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. One died in prison in November of 1980. Another was released from prison in May of 2010. The third suspect remains in prison.
Officer Sager had served with the agency for 12 years. He was survived by his wife and child. The Black Panthers is a racist, radical group that professed the murders of law enforcement officers. Members and former members of the group were responsible for the murders of at least 15 law enforcement officers and the wounding of dozens more across the nation.
