On this day, Nov. 27, in 1934, bank robbery Baby Face Nelson died in a shootout with the FBI. Born as Lester Joseph Gillis, but living under the pseudonym George Nelson, the young-faced bank robber helped John Dillinger escape from prison and rose to the label as “Public Enemy Number One.” On Nov. 27, Nelson and some of his fellow gang members were driving just outside of Chicago when they came across a car of FBI agents heading in the opposite direction. The FBI agents recognized Nelson and began a pursuit that turned into a gunbattle. Nelson’s car was hit by gunfire and began to lose power, so the robber drove into a park. As he exited his car, the agents caught up to him and opened fire, striking Nelson in the side and killing him.
— Freeman Klopott
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