John Dillinger was one of the USA’s most infamous gangsters who operated during the Great Depression. He led the Dillinger Gang to commit horrific acts such as robberies and murders. This gang reportedly had around 15 members. Apart from Dillinger, the other members included Baby Face Nelson, John “Red” Hamilton, Homer Van Meter, Harry “Pete” Pierpont, and Charles Makley, among others.
According to the FBI, John Dillinger escaped prison twice: once on October 12, 1933, and again on March 3, 1934.
From September 1933 to July 1934, he and his gang were involved in the murder of 10 men and several bank and police arsenal robberies. Finally, on July 22, 1934, three FBI agents—Charles B. Winstead, Clarence O. Hurt, and Herman E. Hollis—gunned him down outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago, Illinois. Reports suggest that the trio shot at the gangster five times, of which three bullets struck him. After getting shot, Dillinger fell face down on the pavement.
At the time of his death, John Dillinger was only 31 years old.
How did John Dillinger escape prison?
According to the FBI, Dayton police arrested Dillinger on September 22, 1933. Four days later, eight of his friends escaped from the Indiana State Prison. To do this, they used smuggled shotguns and rifles, which they utilized to kill two guards.
On October 12 of the same year, three escapees arrived at Lima jail, where Dillinger was incarcerated, and freed the gangster. This incident resulted in the death of a sheriff. A few months later, he was arrested again. However, he escaped for the second time on March 3, 1934.
Reports suggest that John Dillinger pointed a wooden gun toward the guards and forced them to open the door to his cell. Then grabbed two machine guns, locked up the guards and several trustees, and fled the scene.
