John Herbert Dillinger (; June 22, 1903 – July 22, 1934) was an infamous
American gangster in the
Depression-era United States, who operated with a group of men known by some as the
Dillinger Gang or Terror Gang that were, among other activities, accused of robbing 24 banks and four police stations. Dillinger escaped from jail twice. He was also charged with, but never convicted of, the murder of an
East Chicago, Indiana police officer who shot Dillinger in his
bullet-proof vest during a shootout, prompting him to return fire. It was Dillinger's only homicide charge.