Officer Wilbert Downey was shot and killed at the scene of a gas station robbery. Officer Downey interrupted five men attempting a gas-station robbery. When Officer Downey entered the gas-station he tried to subdue a suspect armed with a 22 caliber weapon. The suspect shot Officer Downey once before gaining control of Officer Downey's service weapon, and then killed him.

The 18 year-old shooting suspect was apprehended the next day in St. Louis and charged with murder. He was sentenced to the death penalty, however the sentence was appealed and overturned to a sentence of life in prison and paroled in 1982. In April of 1989 federal officers charged him with fraud when he lied on an application for a school bus driver position. His parole had ended prior to his arrest. The other four suspects were apprehended and sentenced to lesser prison sentences.

Officer Downey was survived by his wife, son, and daughter. Interred: Sacred Heart Cemetery, Crystal City, Jefferson County, MO.