LAS VEGAS (KSNV News3LV) — One of the most infamous events in organized crime history happened 87 years ago on Valentine's Day.
The St. Valentine's Day massacre took place in Chicago, but this weekend, pieces of that crime scene are here in Las Vegas at The Mob Museum.
"This is the first time this evidence has ever been on public display," said Geoff Schumacher, the Director of Content for the Mob Museum. "It's a rare opportunity."
You'll find 2 Thompson machine guns on display. Lt. Mike Kline from the Berrien County, Michigan Sheriff's Office, where the guns are stored, says the significance of these firearms was that they were proven to be tied as the main murder weapons in the 1929 St. Valentine's Day massacre. They were uncovered, however, after a minor incident.
"Our department, two of our officers responded to a call of a wrecked car and a man running in the street," said Lt. Kline.
Lt. Kline explained that Officer Charles Skelley stopped the driver who caused the fender-bender and the driver, later identified as Fred Burke, fatally shot him. Burke's home was raided.
"The firearms, cash and arsenal were taken from Fred Burke's house in Michigan," said Lt. Kline.
A display also shows how the firearms were tied to the incident.
Dr. Calvin Goddard scientifically proved the link through pioneered ballistics testing techniques. He compiled a collection containing some of the original crime scene evidence.
The bullets pulled from the leg of Frank Gusenberg and from the forehead of Adam Heyer are on display. An autopsy report shows Reinhardt Schwinner was shot 23 times. They are just three of the seven victims, who were members of Bugs Moran's gang, gunned down execution style.
"There's something about being able to examine the evidence up close and take a look at it," said Schumacher. "Most crimes, you can't do that because police hold onto that and they hold it in their evidence vault and it stays there forever. In this case, we have this rare opportunity because it's so old that the same procedures were not followed back in the day in Chicago, so this evidence is available for public viewing. To me, that's something very different and something you don't see very often."
These artifacts go hand in hand with the permanent St. Valentine's Day Massacre wall display that's been at the Mob Museum since it opened in 2012. The original bricks from the warehouse wall show the bullet holes.
"Sadly, no one was ever prosecuted for the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. We think we know who did it, but they never went to prison for that crime," said Schumacher.
Some of the displays will only be here in Las Vegas until Monday, but the display with the autopsy report and retrieved bullets will remain through the end of the month.
Locals can stop by the museum for free until 9 p.m. Sunday evening, and out of state visitors can take advantage of a buy one-get one free admittance.
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