David Blackwell

Murderer

2known / alleged victims

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Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: USA
Location: Nevada, USA
Date of birth: 1929
Age at first offence: 18
Characteristics: escape
Victim profile: Detective Capt. LeRoy Geach and Detective Sgt. Allen Glass ( Reno police officers )
Method of murder: Shooting
Date(s) of murder: 1947
Years active: 1947
Date of arrest: —
Status: Executed
Executed by asphyxiation-gas in Nevada on April 22, 1949

Case Summary

Case overview

David Blackwell was executed in the Nevada State Prison on April 22, 1949 for the crime of murder. He was convicted for killing two Reno police officers on November 8, 1947.

Background

Blackwell was 19 when he was executed. He was born in Tacoma, Washington, and started to get into trouble when he was very young. He was sent to the Washington State Reformatory, and in 1947 escaped.

Other offences and events before the Reno killings

After his escape in 1947, Blackwell returned to Tacoma and shot and wounded David Wold, who was 17 years old. Blackwell said that Wold had squealed on him.

Blackwell then returned to the Washington State Reformatory where he enabled two companions to escape. Those companions then went on a robbing spree throughout Colorado, Washington, and Oregon.

Journey to Reno and robbery

Nine days after his initial escape from the Reformatory, Blackwell and his companions came to Reno. They robbed a bar of $3,800. They then retreated to a Reno motel.

Investigation and shooting at the motel

Detective Capt. LeRoy Geach and Detective Sgt. Allen Glass came to the Reno motel to question Blackwell about the robbery. They were met by a hail of bullets from a gun Blackwell had under his pillow.

Statements by Blackwell

Blackwell said that his life of crime came from being under the influence of the wrong kind of people at an early age. He then said his life of crime then snowballed to its inevitable conclusion.

Victims

Blackwell was convicted for killing two Reno police officers on November 8, 1947. David Wold, who was 17 years old, was shot and wounded after Blackwell’s return to Tacoma.

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