James F. Farrell, an officer with the Pittsburgh Police Department, was shot on July 5, 1927, when he stopped two men for questioning on the North Side. He died the next day.
Lannell Duncan and Robert Thomas were arrested in the area soon after but were released the same day due to a lack of evidence. Philip Butler was arrested in connection with the murder in August 1927, though the evidence against him was weak and he was released to face separate charges in Baltimore.
No other arrests were made.
State Killings in the Steel City: The History of the Death Penalty in Pittsburgh 