Probation Officer Donald R. "Charley" Knepple, Allen County Adult Probation Department, Indiana

Probation Officer Donald R. "Charley" Knepple

Allen County Adult Probation Department, Indiana

End of Watch Monday, April 28, 1997

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Donald R. "Charley" Knepple

Probation Officer Donald Knepple was shot and killed after being ambushed by a man at a counseling center on South Calhoun Street in Fort Wayne.

The suspect, a former juvenile corrections officer who had been convicted of attempted child molestation, had arranged a meeting with his counselor and Probation Officer Knepple with the intent of murdering them both. As the meeting took place at about 10:00 am, the suspect fatally shot both of them in the head before he fled to the rear of the center and committed suicide. At the time of the incident Probation Officer Knepple, like other officers in his department, were not armed.

Probation Officer Knepple had served with the Allen County Adult Probation Department for 12 years. He was a US Army veteran of the Vietnam War and an Air National Guard reservist. Probation Officer Knepple was survived by his wife, 16-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter.

Bio

Age 48
Tour 12 years
Badge Not available
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; 9 mm
Offender Committed suicide

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I was honored today to receive the scholarship in your honor. I have been a probation officer for 20 years and remember the first year in 2005 I heard your story of bravery and sacrifice. Each year we are reminded of the officer you were and how valued you were in the field. I will go on to help more people partly because of your sacrifice. I will do so with pride!

Kim Whitehurst Juvenile Probation
Grant County Court Services

April 15, 2025