Correctional Officer Daniel Lennon
Died 25 Feb 1991
Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre

On the 5 June 1975 Daniel Lennon, 43 years old, went to work at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre (OCDC) as he had done many times before. There was no way of foretelling what was about to happen in this Ontario Correctional facility.

A sawed off .22-calibre Cooey rifle had been smuggled into the facility, and was in the hands of the inmates. Inmates had also made plans for a multiple escape.

At 9:10 pm (2110 hrs) a shift change was underway. Two inmates were mopping the floor around the steel and bullet-proof control center in the maximum security wing. The door was opened for oncoming staff to enter. One of the inmates pulled a gun and shot Daniel Lennon in the abdomen. A second guard Edward Gray, 58 years old, was also shot, but Gray’s hip pocket wallet stopped the .22-calibre slug. 

The inmates had gained entry to the control centre, and opened all the cell blocks electrically operated doors. More shots were fired at Lennon and Gray but the gun jammed, probably saving their lives. The unlocked outer doors allowed access to the exercise yard. Seven inmates ran across the yard, climbed onto the roof of the cellblock, ran across the roof to the outer fence, over the fence and to temporary freedom. Seven inmates escaped.

An inmate who had been sentenced to 4 years for bank robbery pulled out the gun and shot Lennon at point blank range, the bullet bouncing around inside him, seriously damaging tissue. Dan fell to the floor. Another officer was also shot at, but luckily his wallet took the bullet. At this point the gun misfired as the inmate tried shooting the second officer again. The inmate then pointed the gun at Lennon again, but again the gun misfired. The inmate continued to try to get the gun to fire.

Another inmate encouraged the gun-toting inmate to get going since the escape was underway. Seven inmates escaped that night. This other inmate unknowingly ended the immediate danger to Lennon.

Lennon was rushed to Riverside Hospital Emergency, a short distance away, and with fortune on Lennon’s side, a doctor was on duty who had extensive gun shot experience. The doctor rushed Dan into surgery that saved his life. Lennon’s spleen was removed, but he was still in very serious condition.

One inmate (Barry Forsyth, 31) was recaptured 50 minutes after the escape in Blackburn Hamlet. Two more inmates (Lionel Wright, 30 and John Lamoureux, 27) were back in custody shortly after midnight when the door of a room at Webb’s Motel was kicked in. The two most dangerous escapees, a woman, and a .357 magnum were found here.

Lamoureux was charged with attempt murder, escaping lawful custody, and possession of a dangerous weapon.

After a year of recovery and rehabilitation Dan returned to work at OCDC in the control centre. Some years later he reached retirement. 

Dan died on 25 Feb 1991.