Kern County Obituaries

Fred Walter Lennon

Submitted by Don Stowell; 13 Feb 2008

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Source Unknown; 6 Apr 1950

Desperado is Shot to Death by Officers
Trailed from Los Angeles by an FBI operative and wanted for armed robbery, Fred 
Walter Lennon, 39, was shot to death by officers of the law 10 miles west of Mojave 
on Hwy 466 at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday (yesterday).
Lennon was driving a 1949 gray Packard which may have been a stolen car, since 
it was not registered to him. The FBI man was unable to stop him before he reached 
Mojave.
Coming through Mojave, Lenon stopped for gas and the FBI man here enlisted 
the services of Sam McDaniels, California Highway Patrolman. Both men got in to 
the police car and took out after the gray Packard which they were able to come up 
with at a point 10 miles west of here.
Turning on the red light, the officers ran the Lennon car into the side of the road 
and the FBI man leaving the police car, with McDaniels bringing up the rear, 
accosted the man with the words, "You're Downs, aren't you?" This was denied by 
Lennon, who was then asked for his driver's license. Taking a bill fold from his 
pocket he offered it to the officer and at the same time attempted to draw a gun 
which he had concealed inside his shirt. But the officers were too quick for him 
both drawing their guns and putting between them six shots into his body, Lennon 
meeting instant death.
According to the records Fred Walter Lennon was born November 11, 1930 at 
Madison, Minn. and was a partner of Lee Emory Downs, who was also wanted on 
an armed robbery charge.
The gun he attempted to draw was a German Mausser 7.65, the Packard was 
registered from Montana. 
He was known as public enemy either 1 or 2.
   The. body was picked up by the O'Donnell Funeral Home ambulance and taken 
to that mortuary in Mojave where it awaits burial disposition, after being viewed by 
the Coroner.