Murder of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton

On December 4, 1969, Fred Hampton, chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, was killed during a pre-dawn raid on his West Side apartment by the Chicago Police Department and federal agents. The raid also left another Panther wounded and sparked multiple investigations and a later civil settlement alleging misconduct by law enforcement. Hampton's death is a frequently cited event in discussions of COINTELPRO and police actions against political activists.