On Monday, August 22, 1960, at approximately 9:00 P.M., Deputy Knowlton, an ordained Methodist minister, with Reserve Deputy Earl O’Reilly riding with him, responded to an assist the officer call from two Deputies on the scene of a weapons disturbance. An 83 year-old man, despondent over thefts from his garden, had begun randomly shooting at homes in the 4000 block of Darwin using a 12 gauge shotgun. Upon Deputy Knowlton’s arrival, he met with the other Deputies who had been unable to locate the suspect. A short time later Deputy Knowlton discovered footprints near the suspect’s house, which led to an outhouse located just past the garden. As the Deputies approached with flashlights, the suspect fired once striking Deputy Knowlton in the throat and chest. As he fell, Deputy Knowlton returned fire striking the suspect just above the left eye. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident. Deputy Knowlton died of his injuries; he was 31 years old.