Bio

Russell "Maroon" Shoatz was born in 1943. He grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From a young age, Shoatz showed a strong interest in community issues. He became a community activist and worked to improve the lives of people in his neighborhood.

In 1969, Shoatz co-founded the Black Unity Council. This group aimed to unite the African American community and address issues of social justice and inequality. The Black Unity Council joined the Black Panther Party, which focused on activism for civil rights and self-defense for African Americans.

Shoatz continued to be involved in social activism throughout his early adult life. In August 1970, he became part of the Black Liberation Army, a militant group that split from the Black Panther Party. This group sought to fight against what they saw as oppression of Black people in America.

Murder Story

On August 29, 1970, Russell Shoatz shot and killed police sergeant Francis Von Colln in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The shooting occurred while Von Colln was on duty in a guard house at Cobb Creek Park. Following the incident, Shoatz became a suspect but managed to evade capture for some time. He was not arrested until January 19, 1972, when police stopped him and two other individuals who were in possession of firearms.

During the investigation, evidence linked him to the shooting. Witnesses provided descriptions that matched Shoatz, and he was ultimately identified as being involved in the attack that led to Von Colln's death. The police arrested him at around 6:45 PM on January 19, and after a lengthy interrogation, he made a statement acknowledging his involvement, saying, "Fundamentally, I did."

Shoatz was tried and convicted of first-degree murder, along with related charges like assault and conspiracy. In 1973, he was sentenced to life in prison. His capture and trial were notable parts of his life, as he was connected to radical movements during that time. Throughout his incarceration, Shoatz maintained that he was a political prisoner, arguing that his actions were part of a struggle for civil rights.

Russell Shoatz has been incarcerated in various facilities since his arrest. He escaped from prison in 1977 but was recaptured a month later. In subsequent years, he made another escape attempt, but it ended in a shootout with the authorities. Since 1991, he has been on lockdown for 23 hours a day. In 2005, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer while serving his sentence.