December 16, 1916, Officers John F. Houlehan and Jerome M. Fells were on duty near the Bonaventure Hotel on Independence Boulevard and Park Avenue, when they noticed a young man acting suspiciously. Fells asked him to stop, and the man drew his revolver on them. Houlehan attempted to draw his gun, and was shot. Fells was then also shot. Houlehan was taken to the hospital, where he died December 23, 1916.

Officer Houlehan began his career with the Kansas Ctiy Police Department as a jailer on January 22, 1890. He was appointed to the department on January 22, 1896, and reappointed November 17, 1915.