Deputy Sheriff Randal Richter
Remembering Deputy Sheriff Randal Richter
A Senseless Shooting
In the early morning hours on Thursday May 22, 1975, the Montgomery County, Ohio Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding a suspicious vehicle parked in front of a home in a residential neighborhood. The dispatcher reported the call to Deputy Sheriff Randal Richter. Deputy Richter arrived at the scene and radioed the license plate number in to the sheriff’s office. Deputy Richter then got out of his cruiser and walked over to the driver side window of the vehicle. As soon as Officer Richter approached the drive side window, he was shot at point blank range in the face. The suspect then fled the scene.
A civilian, who heard the shot, walked outside and found Deputy Richter on the ground a few yards away from the vehicle. His gun was still in his holster. The civilian used Deputy Richter’s radio to call the Sheriff’s office and reported that Deputy Richter had been shot. Deputy Richter was rushed to the hospital. He was pronounced dead on arrival.
Deputy Richter had served with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office for 18 months.
Mandatory Life Sentence
Police determined the license plate number called in by Deputy Richter before he was shot belonged to Donald Green. Green was on parole after a robbery conviction. After a statewide manhunt, Green was arrested and charged with the murder of Deputy Richter. Green admitted he shot Deputy Richter, however he stated the gun went off accidentally when he tried to throw it out the window. He told authorities he threw the gun in a river.
Green, who likely realized no jury would believe his implausible alibi, decided to plead guilty to aggravated murder to avoid the death penalty. He received a mandatory sentence of life in prison.
UPDATE: Cop killer Donald Green died in prison on September 21, 2017. Thank you to everyone who submitted a petition to help ensure he fulfilled his full Life sentence. Justice has been served.Rest In Peace Deouty Sheriff Richter. You will never be forgotten.