Very early on Saturday morning, January 1, 1938, Huntersville Police Chief
John Albert Rape and two other men were patrolling the town's business area. When they
passed the bank building, they noticed a man walking slowly along the street.Chief Rape
ordered him to stop, but the man continued on. When Rape got out of his vehicle and
approached the man, the man reached inside his coat, drew his pistol and shot Rape in the
chest. Chief Rape, 34 years old, died a short time later at 3:30 a.m.
According to newspaper accounts, one of the most intensive manhunts ever was conducted
to try to find the suspect and Huntersville offered a $100 reward for information leading
to the killer's capture. He was never found.
Chief Rape was buried in the graveyard of Oakdale Baptist Church. He was survived
by his wife and young daughter.
