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Deputy Sheriff Donald E. Knowlton | Harris County Sheriff's Office, Texas
Harris County Sheriff's Office, Texas

Deputy Sheriff

Donald E. Knowlton

Harris County Sheriff's Office, Texas

End of Watch: Monday, August 22, 1960

Biographical Info

Age: 31
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: August 22, 1960
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Shot and wounded

Deputy Sheriff Donald Knowlton was shot and killed after he and other deputies responded to a call involving an elderly man who was shooting at homes.

When the officers arrived they located the man's footprints and followed them to a nearby outhouse in a field behind his home at 4022 Darwin Road. The suspect opened fire with a shotgun from inside the outhouse, striking Deputy Knowlton in the throat and chest. Deputy Knowlton was able to return fire and wounded the suspect, who was taken into custody.

The 82-year-old suspect was found to be incoherent. He died in a Houston nursing home on September 8, 1963.

Deputy Knowlton was survived by his wife and daughter.