Fred Hampton and Mark Clark

Attempted Murder Charges Eyed in Panthers Gun Fight 

RONALD KOZIOL & EDWARD LEE  / Chicago Tribune 5dec1969

Indictments charging at-tempted murder will be sought within a week by the state's attorney's office against seven alleged members of the Black Panther party who staged a wild gun battle with police early yesterday in a west side apartment.

Two Panther leaders, including Fred Hampton, 21, state party chairman, were shot and killed in the 20-minute exchange of gunfire.

Seize Weapons Cache

Four other persons in the apartment at 2337 Monroe st. and a policeman in the raiding party were wounded during the battle. Police also seized three other reputed Panthers and a cache of 18 weapons—including shotguns, carbines, and pistols—and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition.

The second man killed was Mark Clark, 22. described by police as a Panther leader in Peoria. Listed in serious condition in County hospital was Ronald Satchel, 19, of 2337 Monroe st.. shot in the thigh. right leg, and right hand, and Blair Anderson, 18, of 6943 Justine st., shot in the stomach and left leg.

Two women, Brenda Harris, 18, of 1848 S. Hamlin av., and Verlina Brewer, 17, of 125 W. 107th st., were in fair condition with wounds in the legs.

Plan Charges Against 7

The others arrested were Louis Truelock, 39, of 1900 Jackson blvd; Harold Bell, 23, of Rockford; and Deborah Johnson, 18, of 2337 Monroe st. James Murray, first assistant state's attorney, said evidence is being gathered to be presented to the county grand jury. Meanwhile, charges of attempted murder will be lodged against the seven.

The state's attorney's detective who was wounded was John Ciszewski, who was shot in the right hand. Another detective, Edward Carmody, was cut on the right hand when hit by flying glass.

Twelve policemen took part in the raid, led by Sgt. Daniel Groth. who was armed with a warrant to search the apartment for illegal weapons.

Groth and Detectives James Davis, George Jones, and William Gorman knocked on the first floor apartment door at 4:45 a. m. Groth said a woman's voice asked who was there, and he announced, "Po-lice officers with a warrant to search the apartment."

He continued, "I repeated the knock, then forced the door open with my shoulder. As we entered the apartment, we were met with a shotgun volley fired by a woman who was on a bed in the living room. I returned the fire with my revolver."

The other detectives had dropped to the floor when they heard The shotgun blast, which, it was later learned, saved Groth's life. The blast illuminated the dark room and police noticed Clark near the doorway with a shotgun pointed at Groth. An exchange of shots followed and Clark fell to the floor.

Enter Rear Door

It was at this time that Ciszewski and the other detectives entered the rear door of the apartment.

Groth said that the other occupants of the apartment. in two bedrooms off the living room, then opened fire at the police. Ciszewski was wounded a few minutes later and Groth ordered his men to stop shooting. "I told the occupants to come out with their hands up but someone hollered, "'Shoot it out,' " said Groth

He said more shots were fired as police crouched behind furniture and appliances. Groth said he again asked the occupants to surrender but they continued to shoot.

Ask to Surrender

After several minutes. the Panthers announced they wanted to surrender Hampton's body was found in a rear bedroom Police said a loaded .45 pistol was in his hand and a shotgun by his side. He had apparently been hit by a shotgun blast.

Groth said the warrant was obtained after police received information that guns were being stockpiled in the apartment.

One of the weapons seized yesterday was a shotgun which had been stolen from a police car last April 6.

Mindfully.org note: This is a sad piece of journalistic work that was fed to the reporters who had no knowledge of what really happened. Once again, a brutal police department murders Panthers. This time it was of Mayor Rizzo's police, who had a reputation for brutality.  It is now known that the scene involved a completely different set of events, the main point of which is that the police were under no threat and started shooting before anything happened. They made the apartment look like Swiss cheese and hardly a shot was fired by the Panthers inside. The fact of the matter is that Fred Hampton and Mark Clark were murdered in their sleep.

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