Norman J. Ryan, also known as Red Ryan, was a notorious gangster in early 20th century Ontario. He came from an Irish Catholic upbringing and he took to the streets as a young man to engage in crime. He was called the 'Jesse James of Canada' and he was known for armed robbery, safecracking, and other major theft. He killed six people in his career. He was arrested in Minnesota on December 14, 1923 and given life imprisonment, which he served in Canada. He served his sentence at Kingston Penitentiary. He was shot dead in a liquor store in Sarnia by a police officer. He was shot 3 times.