On the evening of December 19, 1947 Officer Ashley, an 830.33 P.C. peace officer, was called to investigate a suspicious person who had been loitering in the Stockton Santa Fe Railroad passenger station. Upon approaching the suspect, the suspect fired one round from a large caliber handgun concealed in a brown paper bag. The round struck Ashley in the throat, killing him instantly.

The perpetrator was never apprehended.

Officer Ashley was survived by his wife.