LAPD Lieutenant Shoots Suspected Rapist

July 2, 1965 - A respected, deeply religious Los Angeles police lieutenant whose 19-year-old daughter was raped in a hangout for members of motorcycle and auto speed clubs shot and seriously wounded one suspect in police headquarters today.

Lieut. Tom O’Neal, 41, fired five shots with his automatic pistol as Carl Norman, 21, was being led handcuffed down a hallway at the West San Fernando Valley division of the LAPD.

“My God, Tom, no,” cried Detective Sgt. John Shublette, who was escorting Norman and another suspect when O’Neal started firing. Norman was taken to Northridge Hospital, wounded in the chest, arm, and hip.

O’Neal, a plainclothes officer who leads a vice detail, was immediately suspended from duty but was released on a writ returnable next Tuesday. He will be arraigned then for attempted murder. Police Chief William Parker ordered his case handled as any other would be.

Deputy Chief Thad Brown said O’Neal had been distraught because of his daughter’s emotional collapse after she had identified two men among those who attacked her five or more times on Tuesday.

The attack occurred at a house where the girl had gone to sell cookbooks. The police said 12 to 20 men had been inside, including several from the Hell’s Angels motorcycle club.

Brown said medical examination confirmed that Miss O’Neal had been raped at least five times and “subjected to other mistreatment.”

“Only her father could get anything from her,” Brown went on, “but after yesterday, she could not say anything and is having psychiatric treatment.”

Lieut. O’Neal was not officially assigned to the case but had been assisting in the investigation.

After hearing of the attack on Miss O’Neal, the police booked 11 men, all members or past members of the Hell’s Angels, the Challengers, and the King’s Men. Only four remain in custody under the continuing investigation.

One of the four, George Uvatowski, 18, was charged this afternoon with one count of rape and one of burglary. It was he, Miss O’Neal said, who lured her into the house by saying his uncle would buy some cookbooks from her.

Support this project at patreon.com/realtime1960s