Louisiana Department of Corrections, Louisiana
End of Watch: Tuesday, December 28, 1999
Age: 49
Tour of Duty: 12 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Assault
Date of Incident: December 28, 1999
Weapon Used: Blunt object; Hammer
Suspect Info: One shot and killed
Corrections Captain David Knapps was killed after being bludgeoned with a hammer during a prison uprising at a Louisiana State Prison in Angola.
He and two other guards had been taken hostage by a small group of inmates. The inmates demanded Captain Knapps' jail keys, and when he refused to hand them over the inmates beat him with the hammer. One inmate, who charged rescuers with a knife, was shot and killed when a rescue team stormed the room.
Captain Knapps had served with the Louisiana Department of Corrections for 12 years. He is survived by his son and fiancée.