Evening star., 1950-11-20
Father Kills Policeman
And Shoots Another
BY the Associated Press

DETROIT, Nov. 20.-A father
who got a mad on" when police
came to arrest his son killed one
officer and wounded another yes
terday.
Reinforcements rushed in and
used tear gas and riot guns to
arrest him.
Detectives identified the father
as Charles Marshall Gordy, ST.,
So, colored.
They said he admitted firing
the 30-30 rifle that mortally
wounded Patrolman Andreas Mel
lert, 80, and injured his COM
panion. Patrolman David Morgan,
%. Mr.. Morgan was reported in
good condition early today.
Three Men Arrested.
There was some early fear of
rioting in the Negro neighborhood
as bayonet-armed police, a hun
dred strong, were hurried to the
scene. A big crowd gathered, but
there was no violence, officers re-
ported.
However, three Negro men were
arrested and held for investiga-
ton of melting to riot. Officers
said they spread report that a
child had been killed in the Gordy
house.
Police said Mr.. Mellert and Mr..
Morgan arrived at the house
shortly before noon yesterday to
arrest Charles Gordy, jr., 81, on
a charge of robbery unarmed. The
father said they needed warrant.
Officers said the younger man
agreed to go, but the elder Gordy
fired as they led his son away,
handcuffed.
II got a mad on and started
shooting" detectives quoted him
as saying. "I could have reloaded
and shot six or seven more when
the others came. But I was over
my mad by then"
Authorities said the father
would be charged with murder.
James A. Hoye, director of traf-
fic, said extra patrolmen were
called out just in case the crowd
misinterpreted why his men fired
shots and tear gas bombs at the
house.
Police Story of Shooting.
Police told this story of the
shooting:
The younger Gordy had been
arrested earlier yesterday on a
reckless driving charge. He was
released. but police checked their
records, and found he was wanted
on holdup charge.
Mr.. Mellert and Mr.. Morgan
were sent to the Gordy house
Young Gordy put up an argument
but they handcuffed him and led
him out the front door.
The elder Gordy grabbed 30
80 rifle and fired through a win
dow, killing Mr.. Mellert, police
quoted the graying, subdued man
as saying.
Mr.. Morgan then yanked his
gun and ducked behind a post.
Police said Gordy's second shot
struck the post, splintering it. Mr..
Morgan was wounded in the face
by the fragments.
62 Patrolmen Arrive.
Meanwhile, 81 patrolmen con-
verged on the house and fired a
barrage at windows to keep any
occupants from firing another
shot.
Under this protective cover a
team went in and recovered Mr.. |
Melert's body and got Mr.. Morgan
out of danger. The younger Gordy
surrendered to another patrolman.
Officers hurled tear gas bombs |
into the house, flushing out the
occupants, which included Gordy's
family and another family.
The elder Gordy walked out
nonchalantly and tried to slip
away at the rear of the house.
He was chuckling, police said, as
they took him into custody.
The dead patrolman is a World
War II veteran. His wife. who is
expecting their first child next
month, first heard the report of
her husbands death on the radio
and collapsed.
Traffic Director Hoye said
thousands" of spectators i'm
mediately gathered at the scene.
Officers, wary of repetition of
the Detroit race riots In 1943,
which saw "a killed and TOO in
5ured, took steps to control the
crowd.