Gangster Bernie Shelton Assassination Site

Bernie Shelton was the enforcer of the Shelton Gang. The Shelton dominated the bootlegging scene in the area and across Southern Illinois. On July 26th, 1948 Bernie was shot through the chest with a large caliber rifle while leaving the Parkway Tavern. The assassin fired the shot from a path in the woods which was accessed from the cemetery behind the tavern, he died in the hospital about a half hour later, the shooter has never been identified.

Inside the bar are photos of Bernie and a replica of the rifle that was used in the assassination.

The red arrow on the map indicate the most plausible flight path that the bullet took.