Purple Reign is Over

Twenty-four year old Irving Shapiro was a feared member of Detroit's Purple gang and had the distinction of being the first of that particular gang to go for a one-way ride. Shapiro was adept at shaking down speakeasies, contractors and kidnapping. There were no shortage of enemies that would have liked to seen the man dead. It's possible that his own gang had him taken out.

Three days before Shapiro was erased, four member of the gang Abe Axler, Eddie Flectcher, Irving Millberg and Harry Sutton were sent to Leavenworth for bootlegging. There may have been some power moves by the remaining gang who decided that Shapiro had to go. Purple Gang historian Paul Kavieff states that Shapiro kidnapped a contractor and wanted to get $25,000 in ransom but his confederates settled for $4,000. Apparently Shapiro wasn't happy and told his gang mates that they would be kicking in the difference for his share or else. 

Well aware of their cronies ferocity, the remaining Purple Gang members picked up Shapiro in large grey touring sedan, he was in the front passenger seat. At about 3 o'clock in the morning, someone in the back seat placed a .32 at the left base of his skull and fired. The bull passed through his head and out his left cheek. Two more shots were fired to similar effect. The car pulled over and Shapiro was jettisoned.

 

Irving Shapiro