A solemn centennial reflection took place yesterday as the Fort Worth Police Department took to social media to honor the memory of one of its fallen officers, John D. Nichols Jr., who was fatally shot in the line of duty 117 years ago.
Officer Nichols, who was assigned to the Standard Theater at Twelfth and Rusk found himself embroiled in an altercation at the ticket office near midnight on December 22, 1906, when a dispute with a customer escalated fatally. The customer drew a weapon and shot Nichols once in the upper torso. The officer managed to return fire, wounding his assailant before succumbing to his injuries moments later, alone, on a cot in the theater's backroom, according to the Fort Worth Police.
***#EndofWatch***
— Fort Worth Police (@fortworthpd) December 22, 2023
December 22, 1906
John D. Nichols Jr.
Officer John D. Nichols Jr. was assigned to the Standard Theater at Twelfth and Rusk. On the night of December 22, at about 11:55 p.m., Officer Nichols was called to the ticket office to settle a dispute with a customer.… pic.twitter.com/4zqwiOKa1N
The 43-year-old officer's death resonates over a century later as a somber reminder of the risks law enforcement officers face on duty, with Fort Worth PD declaring, "We will never forget the sacrifice made by Officer John D. Nichols Jr", per the Fort Worth Police.
