Sergeant Booton was shot and killed Sunday, December 11, 1932, after he and another officer stopped two suspicious men parked in front of a laundromat. The suspects were planning on robbing the laundromat and open fired on the officers when they approached, striking Sergeant Booton in the chest.

The suspects were apprehended and brought to the hospital where Sergeant Booton identified the shooter before succumbing to his injuries.

Both suspects were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. One had his sentence commuted to 90 years by the governor and was paroled in 1962. He was returned to prison four months later for violating his parole. He was paroled again September 8, 1966. The other suspect died in prison May 9, 1950.

Sergeant Booton served the Des Moines Police Department for five years and was 42 years old.

Click here to view Memorial on the National Peace Officer Memorial Listing

Click here to view Memorial on the Officer Down Memorial Pages