The Two Deaths of 1969

On July 21, 1969, Lillie Belle Allen was visiting family in York, Pennsylvania from Aiken, South Carolina. Along with Ms. Allen, her mother, father, sister, and brother-in-law were driving to J.M. Fields Discount Department store. When turning onto North Newberry Street, they drove by a large group of White youths with guns. Hattie, Allen’s sister, ducked in fear as they passed over the Western Maryland Railroad tracks which caused the car to stall. 

Lillie Belle Allen got out of the back seat to help drive away, exclaiming “Don’t shoot,” and was shot in the right chest by a ricocheted bullet. She fell to the ground and the shooting continued, knocking out the car’s back window, puncturing a tire, and putting several holes in the trunk and rear right door.

Police arrived in an armored vehicle after a few minutes of gunfire, telling the youth to stop shooting. The police called for an ambulance. Ms. Allen died at approximately 9:50 at York Hospital that night. 

She was a caring mother who would always root for the underdog, looked after her brothers and sisters, and found time to have fun. Ms. Allen was always hosting block or birthday parties for children to enjoy or went on fishing trips with her family. She always defended her right to be respected, stood up for what was right, and brought up her children in her likeness.

On Friday, July 18, 1969, Police Officer Henry Schaad was shot while responding to a shooting during the race riots in York. The bullet penetrated the armored vehicle – named Big Al – in which Schaad was traveling. The bullet caused the armor in the vehicle to fragment and Schaad was struck by one of those fragments in the chest. He died from those wounds on August 1, 1969. 

At just 22 years old and being with the police department for only ten months, Officer Schaad became the first ever York City police officer to be killed in the line of duty. Schaad was survived by his wife Sonja and 5-year-old daughter.

Both Lillie Belle Allen and Officer Henry Schaad are memorialized in the History & Culture Center. At the HCC, we know how important it is to teach the whole story – no matter how dark it might be. These stories serve as a reminder of York’s past and to show how far we’ve come. As visitors recall and are taught about the riots, we encourage them to leave comments about how they will help to better York. 

Visit the History & Culture Center today to learn more about Lillie Belle Allen, Officer Henry Schaad, and the York race riots of 1969.