Charles Washington
EOW 4/30/1958
April 30, 1958, Ardmore Officer Charles Washington died from gunshot wounds he received in an 11 bullet shootout on East Main street two days previous. Washington had told Robert McIntire to go home.
McIntire did, but return a short time later, and fired several shots at Washington. While falling to the ground, Washington emptied his service revolver at McIntire, who was hit several times.
Murder Charge Due
Copyright The Daily Ardmoreite - Ardmore, Oklahoma
Wednesday, April 30, 1958
Gun Battle Wounds Fatal to Policeman
Ardmore Policeman Charles Washington, 49, died at 8 a.m. today of three bullet wounds suffered in a gun battle Monday night with Robert McIntire, 67, an Ardmore Negro.
McIntire, wounded twice in an 11-shot pistol exchange, is in poor condition, according to the latest hospital reports.
Charges of murder were being prepared for filing in the district court by County Attorney Claud Smith.
Washington, a police officer with the Ardmore department since Feb. 1, 1957, was on routine duty Monday night when, according to Assistant Chief E.C. Thompson, he told McIntire to go home.
According to Thompson, McIntire left the Veteran's Cab stand at 314 East Main, where the shooting took place and returned later with his .380 Browning pistol blazing.
Washington, inside the cab office and approximately eight feet from the door, was shot in the left forearm, left shoulder and the left side of the stomach.
While falling, Washington emptied his gun of six rounds, two of which struck McIntire who reportedly had been drinking. McIntire was shot in the left armpit and in the front of his right leg near the thigh. At the police station today a pall of gloom came over the officers when notified of Washington's death.
Police Chief Ott Welch said, "He was an outstanding officer who never shirked his duty and had the utmost respect of the people and his fellow officers."
"We'll miss Charles," Welch said.
Services are pending.