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Deputy Warden John August Pieper | Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Pennsylvania

Deputy Warden

John August Pieper

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, Pennsylvania

End of Watch: Monday, February 11, 1924

Biographical Info

Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 11, 1924
Weapon Used: Officer's weapon
Suspect Info: Executed in 1926

Deputy Warden John Pieper and Sergeant John Coax were shot and killed during an attempted prison escape at Western Penitentiary (modern-day SCI Pittsburgh).

The escape attempt started when a gas main exploded near the prison's front gates. In the ensuing panic of the prisoners fleeing towards the prison's yard, a guard was disarmed. The inmates used the weapon to shoot and killed Deputy Warden Pieper and Sergeant Coax.

Local police and deputies responded to the prison and were able to prevent the escape and assisted with bringing the situation under control. Five inmates were charged with first-degree murder. Two were acquitted. Each of the other three was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder. One received the death penalty and was executed December 27th, 1926.