Officer Nicholas Hunt was shot and mortally wounded after he and his partner responded to a robbery at Heibel's Grocery and Saloon at 600 South Jefferson. As the robbers exited the store, the owner opened fire with a hidden revolver. The robbers returned fire. An Officer Martin Delaney heard the gunfire and spotted the fleeing suspects. He fired two shots at one of the suspects at a distance of 20 feet and took cover as the suspect returned fire. Officer Hunt then responded to the sounds of shouts to find Officer Hunt with a suspect at gunpoint at the 22nd Street rail crossing. Officer Hunt asked Officer Delaney to take his prisoner, who gave the name, Charles Shelton, and joined in the search for the remaining suspects. At shortly after 8 pm, during an ensuing exchange of gunfire at midway point on 23rd Street, between Papin Street and Chouteau Avenue, and Officer Hunt was severely wounded. Officer Delaney, with prisoner in tow, helped Officer Hunt to William Rothley's saloon where two patrons assisted Officer Hunt across the street to Helwig's Drug Store at 2200 Chouteau. Physician Louis Schuchat lived above the drug store and provided immediate assistance. Officer Hunt was taken by ambulance to St Mary's Hospital where physicians operated but he died shortly before 5 am the next morning with his wife at his side. The bullet was found to have entered Officer Hunts body below the ribs, pass through his body piercing his liver before coming to rest just below the skin on his back.

One of the suspects, career criminal William C. Thornton sustained a back wound and possibly a wound to his thigh in the gun battle, but escaped down river on a blue shantyboat, a flat bottomed boat. Detectives were scouring the region downriver and in Louisiana, looking traces of the wounded suspect who was thought may seek refuge with friends in the swamps of Louisiana. Suspect Thornton was described as a 5' 4-1/2" inch 19 year-old Creole weighing 142 pounds who has traveled widely from San Jose where he was arrested as part of a gang to Louisiana.

William C. Thornton, was apprehended in Wilmington, Delaware after committing another robbery but escaped from prison. He was arrested again in Rhode Island for yet another robbery and sentenced to 25 years. He was pardoned after serving 15 years by the Rhode Island Governor in 1914 that he be released from jail to be arrested by St. Louis detectives and returned to Missouri to face robbery and murder charges.

Officer Hunt had served with the police department for two years, appointed as a probationary officer in March 1895, and in April 1, 1896 promoted to the rank of patrolman. He was assigned to the Central District. His brother James Hunt was assigned to the Fourth District. He was survived by his wife and four young children ranging from 1 to 7 years of age. Interred: Unmarked grave, Calvary Cemetery and Mausoleum, St. Louis, MO.