Newhall Incident: Four Patrolmen Killed in Less than 5 Minutes 

I am a truck driver from Oregon and I take that route quite often. There's a sign out there on the freeway that mentions the names of all four officers. Thank you for the video.

I am 78 years old now, but remember this tragedy so well. I was living in Fresno at the time. It has always been somewhat of a mystery, as to just who these officers were, but after watching this episode, everything surrounding this very sad incident has brought much clarity of its history. I appreciate your effort, and professionalism in bringing this event to the public. Thank you!

My husband recently retired from 27 years of service as a CHP officer. I could not watch this without shedding many tears for these officers and their families. You did not just tell the story, but you honored the memories of their lives and their call to duty. We have recently found your channel. The insights you bring into various aspects of history is intriguing.

I am retired police officer. This incident was gone over in the academy. Unfortunately, much of police training is a based off of others who died in the line of duty. This did prompt changes in training and protocol on high risk stops. I believe the lessons learned from this event have saved many officers lives.

What a horrific event. You did it justice in not letting it be forgotten!!! Thank you

In the late 70's I was an MP in the US Army. A group of us were selected to take a course at FLETC. We were shown a recreation of this event. Several MP's had to leave the room due to becoming ill, it was that graphic. I'll never forget that film or the lesson it taught. RIP Officers.

Thank you for this tribute to these four fallen officers. I attended Our Lady of Mercy High School with Walt Frago and Nikki. It was such a shock to learn of the shooting back then. And it is just as difficult to relive today.

My brother was a police officer and I prayed every day for his safety thank God he was able to retire. RIP TO ALL 4 HEROES

I started my law enforcement career in the Los Angeles County area in the early 1970’s. I remember this incident so well. So much was learned. This personalized and respectful video brought tears to my eyes. Well done. After a 4 decade career as a police officer I still regularly think of this incident.

I grew up at King’s Beach in North Lake Tahoe. In November of 1963, a California Highway patrol officer was killed near Donner Summit about a week before Kennedy was assassinated. He got in a fire fight with three bank robbers from Sacramento. Later, I went to high school with one of his sons.

As a former Cop, I certainly benefited from the loss of the four men due to the tactical knowledge gained. There is no telling how many felony stops I conducted in my 8 year career as a metro Atlanta area County police officer. It's hard to believe as late as 1970 that the felony stop/take down wasn't widely used. A sad day in Law enforcement. I pray these 4 hero's rest in peace. I am thankful for their service and their sacrifice.

As a retied officer myself, I tell you this for a fact. Although they gave their lives that day it was not in vain. Unless you actually went through police training after this incident, you couldn't realize just how much training and procedures were improved to assist in officer safety as used today. This to include traffic stop procedures, safety in the form of vest and the transfer from revolvers to autos. Ammunition also was improved greatly.

I was driving by that night as the investigation was taking place, officer Fargo was born 4 days before me that same year, I’m 74

This incident has always intrigued me. If I remember correctly, two of the officers were also next door neighbors and really close friends. For a father to commit suicide 16 years later, that just shows how much that man suffered over his loss.

Thanks to Jeff and Sarah for the work on this memorial to the four officers. I believe this event was covered both in one of my college courses (by retired CHP AL Bartok who was listening to his radio as the shooting went down), and again in my academy class. The lessons learned from the shooting kept me safe as 15 years as a deputy Sheriff passed, working traffic far from any cover units. Thanks again.

This was at one time thought to be the deadliest day in California law enforcement history. Later in 2009 an equally tragic event occurred when four Oakland police officers were killed. Than an old newspaper article was discovered, that documented five Alameda County deputies that were killed from an explosion in 1898.

Great episode! I like how you focused on the officers and their families. My father was also a CHP rookie at the time, this incident made a huge impact on his life.

What a fantastic tribute, Jeff. I'm so glad you were able to visit two of their graves in Merced. What a horrific crime, in so many ways. Glad to hear some good came out of it and has probably saved hundreds of officer lives since. You really do go the extra mile for these awesome, historic videos!

So sad that four young family men died at the hands of criminals. Seeing Officer Gore’s grave shows the toll taken by his violent death, with his widow dying at 47 and his father committing suicide. Terrible.

I returned from Vietnam, Jan. 1970. Seven years later I was a colorado State Trooper. I became a firearms and officer survival instructor. I researched this and several other CHP incidents to learn as much as possible about what went wrong. Thank you for this production. I learned some details I didn’t know before. We cannot allow our history to be forgotten!

Another great job Jeff, very well done. I'm retired law enforcement, and when I was starting out, the Newhall incident was still being extensively studied for training purposes. Over the years, I have seen countless period photographs of the scene, and several that you dug up for this video I have never seen before. You definitely put a lot of time, effort, and dedication into this video. Thank you.

Thank you for this! My husband is a 36-year police veteran! He says this incident changed policing forever! Keep up the great work Jeff & Sarah. This is SO very important! Oh…and I’m still homesick!♥️

My brother emailed this video to me. He was on the California Highway Patrol for 39 years until his retirement. He was the most senior officer in the State his last few months on the job. He was working the freeways in So Cal on the day this horrible tragedy took place. He was called to respond to the scene of the shootings and was heading that direction, but then the call was cancelled. It was too late. Several years ago he explained to me exactly what happened and what changes were made in training after those officers were murdered. It was amazing to me how a couple small things they were taught at the academy actually contributed to them getting shot. Our father was a Los Angeles Police Officer for 30 years until he retired. So there were many decades that my worst fear was that one of them would get killed on the job. My heart goes out to those four officers’ families and loved ones, that their worst fears happened.💔 Thank you for a well done video, honoring these brave officers.

Ive driven through that intersection more then a dozen times in my life and have been completely unaware of this tragedy up until now. Another great video, keep it up.

Jeff, great job covering these tragic murders as I watch with watery eyes. I am a retired CHP officer and during my 1987 Academy training, the Newhall Incident, the CHP Alfred Turner (1975), and the CHP Roy Blecher & William Freeman (1978) Incidents were engrained in my mind. Instructors made the point to use the best police survival tactics and to win, to “never die on a dirty freeway!” It’s amazing today how many politician’s and media outlets will side with “Dirtbags” and second guess law abiding cops! Are mistakes made? Sure, just like any profession including Medical Practitioners!

Excellent video. Have often heard of the “Newhall 4” but never checked into what it actually referred to. Thank you for your top shelf efforts in bringing attention to these four young heroes. As the father of an LAPD officer, I know this can happen to anyone.

I can guarantee this Incident changed the way law enforcement conducts car stops. I have vivid memories of this case when it was presented in the Police Academy I attended. It was presented over a two day period in forensic detail by a former SGT in the CHP. It was highly emotional to hear the actual recordings of the radio calls that night and to see the crime scene photos that were taken during the massive investigation that took place after this tragedy. It highlighted the the inadequacy of the revolver and the need for a semi automatic pistol for officers. It focused on the way the officers parked their patrol car and made an approach on a known armed subject vehicle. It changed how and when we decide to stop a vehicle. It showed that the officers had poor visibility into the pontiac and changed forever our use of spotlights and other lighting to illuminate a vehicle and to obscure our approach to that vehicle. I could go on and on but these are just a few of the changes that were made as a result of the Newhall tragedy. To say these four officers, by their actions and death, saved thousands of future Police Officers lives would be a gross understatement. This incident has saved countless officers lives including my own! 🙏 Thank You, for doing this.

Thank you for reporting this. I was almost 4 years old when this happened, and I had not heard of it until now. I have been to that intersection numerous times while passing through on I-5. Now I will remember the officers.

As a Trucker who drove I-5 a lot in my career, the CHP office that has the original 4 pine trees (can still be seen) about a mile or so south from the one you showed, near magic mountain parkway. Love your History Hunting

Yet another great video! Thank you sooo much for letting us on this sad and tragic story, Jeff! Bless you 🙏🏼

I'm glad I clicked on this video I've lived in Santa Clarita for over 26 years and I had no idea what happened in that area in 1970 pretty traumatic time and those officers killed deserve our utmost respect and may all rest in peace!

I was in seventh grade when I heard about the incident on the radio. And I am familiar with the area in which it happened. Now that I am older we all realize how important standing up for righteousness is to our society as a whole. Good job guys! You are in our prayers and thoughts. They are in heaven now.

I first heard of “The Newhall Incident” many years ago from a TV show called “Real Stories of the Highway Patrol.” Your research went into much greater depth and I greatly appreciate the time and effort that it took to put this video together, so thank you. One fact that I found to be quite ironic, is that two of these officers had the same last names as two former U.S. Vice Presidents, Gore and Pence. I was also touched by then Governor Ronald Reagan’s words regarding these four heroes. May they all rest in peace.

This incident took away an innocence we all had back then. My family would leave "the valley" and spend weekends "in the desert" of the Newhall/Saugus area, and this tragedy hit us hard. We never went back.

This is exactly why I don’t believe in parole

This was a great episode, Jeff. It brought tears to my eyes, as well. Thank you very much for tending to Ofc. Frago's gravesite. I work in Fairfield and never knew Ofc. Pence was buried there. I will endeavor to visit his gravesite soon.

I love the way you told their story. So many people these days don't appreciate the work police do to keep us safe. People need to realize that if these monstrous criminals are willing to murder police officers what do you think they'll do to you. You should make a true crime channel too since you're such a great story teller. Awesome job on the research Jeff.

I lived down there during this time. I remember going to "J's" Coffee shop quite often. I also worked a reserve deputy sheriff and this incident was part of our training. Such a tragic loss for the law enforcement community as well as those that lived in Newhall. Great memorial video for the officers.

Excellent comprehensive tribute video. You’re the only one who’s researched and relayed so many details. The diagrams were instrumental in understanding exactly what happened. I also appreciated the photos.

Jeff, another outstanding video!!!! Was in the tenth grade in Fontana, CA when this happened, vaguely remember this. Thank you for honoring our fallen heroes!! I’m always in anticipation of what lost or forgotten history that I will learn about on history hunters! Please keep up the great videos! Thank you, Tom in Ceres.

Thank you for covering this story. I was hired by an LA County agency in '76 and this event was still on everyone's mind. Many mistakes were made that day, none the fault of the officers. The training and survival tactics developed from this shooting are still in use today and many lives have been saved as a result. In my 60's now, I look at the young faces of these men and realize what was taken from them and from the children and grandchildren who will never know them. The death of police officers is quickly forgotten today and I'm glad to see you remind people of these four young men and the families they left behind.

I live in Visalia, CA My husband’s cousin was a CHP and I was also 23 years old at that time and he talked about them. But I simply forgot about these heroes. Now I’m 73 years old and I just subscribed to your channel because I know of most of these incidents but didn’t know details. Thanks for taking the time to research all there is to know. God bless and keep you safe

Profoundly moving, especially considering that 51 years have passed and that the memory of their sacrifice is not forgotten.

Thank you for covering this terrible incident. This case was covered in great detail when I attended the Police Academy in 1986 including graphic photos of the deceased officers laying together at the Morgue. This was done not to criticize the officers but to learn from past tactics and hopefully plant the mindset that if you let your guard down bad things can happen. I retired in 2012 after 26 years as a patrolman and sergeant and believe that this and other incidents of this nature have saved officers lives.

Great episode and well done. I’ve been to that McDonalds and had no idea. Great job doing this and showing how this affected families and showing the memorials. I was 15 minutes away when a CHP officer was shot and killed on a freeway in Alamo, CA one morning and they shut the freeway down, I remember seeing the ambulance leaving in the distance going to a nearby hospital. Thanks for doing this.

Thank you for your time in the production of this video ....i am now aware of the "newhall incident" as i was only 7 at the time ...this is a great tribute ....

This is very well done. The Newhall incident was part of my curriculum as an instructor. Your video filled in the personal lives of these fallen heroes. Thank you from a retired/disabled officer.

I’m 62 years old and I never heard the story I am so thankful for the work you did in this video so perfectly told.

May they Rest In Peace. To their families my deepest condolences.

Thank you History Hunters for doing such a great job on this memorial tribute. I’m a retired 32 year veteran Deputy Sheriff. The first week of my academy training we were shown pictures of this incident and some very hard ( to look at) photos . It brought the stark realism of danger you would be exposed too and the possibility of death in the line of duty! It really made you pause for a moment and think is this the job I want. This was a nice to tribute to these officers . Thank you.

Thank you for this beautiful tribute to these fallen Officers. I went to Our Lady of Mercy High School with WALTER FRAGO. He was the kindest, friendliest person I had ever met.He and Nicki were inseparable in school. I’m just saddened that MERCED did not erect a memorial like SNELLING did. Again, thank you for this wonderful video. Bill Schafer Class of 1966.

Thank you for all your research to make these great vlogs! I always look forward each week to seeing what and where you'll be next. Well done!!

I'm so glad you made this video. I always wondered what spot this took place since so much has changed there. I remember this was making national headlines

I was just talking about this on Thursday good job as always Jeff

We just watched this again. My husband is a 36-year police veteran who worked in Livingston, CA, Cheyenne, WY, Lemoore, CA & Illinois. He said this incident drastically changed how felony car stops were handled. It forever changed law enforcement. Your biggest Tennessee (formerly California) fans…💙💙💙

Man history hunters is such a great series. It's like being in a time machine. Thanks for the great content.

Well done Jeff! This terrible incident occurred about a year and a half before I joined the ranks of a law enforcement agency in Canada. A career that spanned in excess of 30 years. Thanks for taking the time to research this sad event and present it in such a respectful manner.

Has to be one of the saddest...thank you for all these videos on RU-vid...being a "history buff"...can't get enough and really appreciate it ALL!!! God's BEST BLESSINGS BE UPON YOU!!! Thanks again!!!

Thanks so much for doing a great job and researching the events of that night!

Thank you for this, I remember this very sad, and terrible incident very well. I was 12 years old, and my mom and I had eaten at the J's restaurant for breakfast the morning of this horrible incident. My mom's brother was supervising the construction of Magic Mountain at that time. When it opened on May 28, 1971. He (Doc Lemmon) was the President of Magic Mountain, after picking it's site, and naming it. He had given me and my mom a hard-hat tour of it while it was under construction, the day before. Thanks for your excellent Vlog of this very unfortunate incident.

Great video. My dad is a retired CHP out of Fairfield. I don't know the exact year he became one but it wasn't too long after this. He was a prison guard before that. I was born in Fairfield, was three years old when this happened, and still live near by. I don't remember ever hearing about it growing up. I'll have to ask my dad about it sometime. I didn't realize how dangerous of a job it was until I was an adult. I'm grateful nothing happened to my dad while on the job. There are some interesting stories that came out of his career of 25 years with the Fairfield CHP. Thank you for this amazing video and all of the work you put into it.

Thank you for this very respectful presentation. You could have stopped after covering the actual incident but continued to honor the memory of the officers. Great compassion and work.

Great work, as always. Also I love the unmistakable “That Chapter” music in the outro.

Great video Jeff, it gave me chills, so horrific what they went through and they were merely just boys.

This really broke my Heart. I'm 69 years old now all I can think about is how they never got to experience the journey of getting old. My tears are falling right now. Much Thanks and Love to these Heros. Never knew them personally, but I Truly Miss their Brave Souls. I will never forget these Officers. Love and Peace, rayray ✊✌️🤙

Great story telling and editing, I really like your style. Kudos and keep up the great work!

I am so pleased to have found this channel.

Thank you for sharing Jeff, and for your respectful retelling of this tragedy.

I was a police officer back when this happen and I remember when our dept told us about the police officers getting killed may they Rest In Peace our training changed after this .

I write to you from Australia and am very impressed with your editing efforts and in telling us about what happened to the four officers and how they are remembered. May they RIP.

Wow, what a fantastic job! Great video sir! Thank you for brining some attention to those brave and courageous officers who lost their lives.

Thank you for your thoughtful remembrance of these four heroic human beings. My oldest brother is a retired police officer. Very emotional, well researched and narrated video. Thank you so much !

A great tribute to such a sad event.

Thank you so much for posting this

What a great tribute. Thank-you for posting. Certainly brought tears to my eyes.

Right off from the beginning of this documentary, I noticed if there should ever be a movie made from this story, Jack Tiwining could be played by the American actor Chad Michael Murray from the past 2003 TV series One Tree Hill. This is the first time I have heard of this tragic event. I also was a past subscriber to you folks in the past but some how had become separated. You guys not only do a very good job researching the history you cover and uncover, You also do it with such professionalism and with much respect. 🙏 My first documentary that I had seen from you both was The Donner Party. Excellent job on hunting that history my friends. I shall now resubscribe. 👍

What a sad and terrible event.Thank you for handling this with dignity and respect towards the fallen officers and their families.

Jeff, your research and presentations are amazing. Thank you for helping us to remember.

Thank you for this beautiful video, Jeff. It brought me to tears in how well it was presented. 😞🙏🏻

What a tragic story, thankyou Jeff for sharing this. To any police officers, reading this, Thankyou so much for your service, please stay safe. 👮‍♂️👮‍♀️🇺🇲

While remembering those CHP officers, let us not forget George Kness, who displayed courage and citizenship of the highest degree

What a magnificent, accurate documentary! I have studied this incident in detail and have a book on it. You nailed it in a brief, concise and respectful way. Thanks. 12 days after this tragedy my father in law suddenly passed away and I traveled from Bakersfield to the south land . I drove through the Newhall intersection not knowing at that time what had happened. Sometimes in life you’re living through history and are totally unaware of what just transpired.

Thank you for making this video . I live less than 30 minutes from. New Hall all my life and at 43 I had no idea about this tragedy. Being a major supporter of first responders I will take time tomorrow afternoon to make it to the CHP memorial for these 4 fallen officers all due to your information. Thanks again for your post , very good work sir.

Thank you Jeff for the respectful way you presented this. I learned something new today and thanks for the ever insightful Historical Information. Glad to see they have never been forgotten.

Very well done, Mr History Hunter.

Absolutely great video…I’m glad a ran across this channel…👍🏼👍🏼

Thanks again Jeff for another fascinating look back at History. Sad,,,,

Thanks Jeff for this tribute video. As a Philadelphia Highway Patrol Officer this was a touching tribute to 4 heroes who should never be forgotten and it’s nice to see how the state is memorializing them with the dedication of the stretch of highway and the memorial in front of the CHP HQ’s building. As a member of the honor guard for our police department I have done several funerals for officers here killed in the line of duty over the years and I can only imagine how the families of everyone involved feels and especially the families of all 4 officers of this tragedy felt. God bless them and the 4 heroes too! Thanks again, you did a great job! See ya on the next one, take care now, Frank from Philadelphia, PA.

I retired after 33 years and I remember discussing this incident at the academy. It’s a tragedy these very young patrolmen, new on the job, had their lives cut short by two very experienced psychos.

I came across this video. Thank you for all your research ❤and film. I'm sure the families are thankful.

Thank you for all you do Jeff!!

Excellent report of four brave officers! Thank you very much! From Florida. God bless you & anyone else involved.

Sad how 2 people can ruin all those lives just for money!

Thank You Sir but trying to cope with this video is hard. Fantastic respect you gave these officers. New suscriber, and looking forward to watching ALL your videos

as usual an amazing recount of a sad day in history, you are awesome Jeff.

Thank you Jeff for doing a piece on the Newhall Incident. Your video was very informative and a great tribute to the fallen Officers. I'm sharing with all my retired LEO's.

I remember this happening, your story was a great tribute to these fallen officers, great job Jeff and God bless you and Sarah for bringing these stories to light.

Jeff these are the stories that I really enjoy watching. Thank you

Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention! 😣😔😢

Thank you for this information. Back then one of my uncles was a LA county sheriff. I talked to him about this case several years later and he was emotionally struck all those years later. I had read about police tactics in a training manual and this shooting was mentiined as a point of discussion. Also in the manual was a photogragh of these four young officer's dead bodies neatly laid out side by side with coverings over their faces. This photograph was also a graghic reminder of how dangerous this job is. I can still see that photo in my head as I write this. It was very chilling....