On May 23, 1934, the infamous criminal duo Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were ambushed and killed by law enforcement officers in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. Their crime spree during the Great Depression, marked by bank robberies and murders, captivated the American public and law enforcement alike.

The ambush ended a two-year manhunt and symbolized the federal government’s intensified efforts to combat organized crime.

Additional historical events on this day:

1430: Joan of Arc was captured by Burgundian forces during the Siege of Compiègne, leading to her trial and execution.

1533: The marriage of King Henry VIII to Catherine of Aragon was declared null and void, a pivotal moment in the English Reformation.

1915: Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary, joining the Allies in World War I.

2015: Ireland became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage through a popular vote, reflecting shifting societal attitudes.