Federal Prohibition Agent Charles Bintliff

Charles Bintliff

Federal Prohibition Agent Charles Bintliff and Deputy State Sheriff Charles Halpin, of the South Dakota Office of the State Sheriff, were shot and killed near Redfield, South Dakota, while attempting to arrest a man who had wounded another federal agent one week earlier.

Deputy Sheriff Halpin and Agent Bintliff were with two other officers who arrived at the man's farm at 1:30 am. The officers split up and Deputy Halpin and Agent Bintliff went to search the man's barn.

As the two searched the barn the man opened fire on them with a shotgun, striking Agent Bintliff in the chest and Deputy Halpin the abdomen. Both men were killed instantly. The suspect fled but committed suicide after a posse of 400 men surrounded him later in the day.