A notorious incident unfolded at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri involving a brazen attempt to free captured fugitive Frank Nash. Nash was a known criminal who had been arrested for robbery and was being transported by FBI agents when the gangsters launched their assault. Armed with machine guns and a determination to rescue Nash, they opened fire in the station, leading to a chaotic and violent confrontation.

During the shootout, which lasted mere minutes but left a profound impact, four FBI agents were killed, and many others were injured. The gangsters, while managing to facilitate Nash's escape, did not go unscathed—several were arrested in the aftermath, leading to further investigations into their organized crime operations. The violence not only captured the attention of the public but also alarmed law enforcement agencies across the nation, highlighting the lengths to which criminals would go to free their comrades.

The Union Station massacre was significant for its revelation of the capabilities of organized crime in America. This shootout became a wake-up call for law enforcement, prompting a stronger federal response to combat gangster violence and organized crime syndicates that were operating openly in the 1930s. The event also underscored the severe dangers faced by agents in the line of duty during an era when crime was rampant and police forces were often ill-equipped to deal with it.