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Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Gunfire
Date/Time of Incident:
Tuesday, October 22, 1974
01:20 pm
Incident to Death Duration:
Same day
Incident Location:
2300 block of North College Avenue, Indianapolis
Incident County:
Marion
Incident Township:
Center
Weapon Used:
.38-caliber handgun
Suspect Disposition:
Died in prison

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Indianapolis Police Department

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Officer Robert Edward Schachte

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Officer
Robert Edward Schachte
Indianapolis Police Department
Tuesday, October 22, 1974

Panel 37W, Line 8
Panel L30, Line 9

   Officer Robert Schachte was shot and killed while searching a man during a traffic stop.

   While conducting the search at the rear of his squad car, a scuffle ensued and Officer Schachte was shot in the face. The shooting was witnessed by the driver and guard in an armored car. They stopped, the guard exited their vehicle and fired three shots, striking the suspect who continued fleeing.

   Officer Schachte was taken to Marion County Hospital where he died during surgery.

   The 28-year-old suspect was eventually apprehended in Detroit eight months later. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison where he died in 2014 while incarcerated.

   At the time of the incident, he had escaped over a month earlier from Central State Hospital in Indianapolis where he had been admitted under a program for habitual drug addicts to avoid prosecution on a burglary charge.

   Officer Schachte was survived by his wife. One of his brothers also served on the department.

Military Service


United States Marine Corps
Sergeant (SGT) ▪ 1963–1969


The responsibilities of the Indianapolis Police Department (1854–2006) are now under the jurisdiction of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

Personal Details

Age: 29
Law Enforcement Service:
6 years, 8 months
Badge #: 243
Burial Place:
Calvary Cemetery, Indianapolis