Nelson B. Klein, Sr.

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch August 16, 1935

Age 37

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

The Vigil Panel 70 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 88

Incident

Special Agent Nelson Klein was shot and killed while he and another special agent attempted to arrest a man for car theft and interstate transportation of stolen vehicles in West College Corner, Indiana. When the agents instructed the suspect to surrender, the man ran behind a garage and opened fire, fatally wounding Agent Klein. Agent Klein and the other agent were able to return fire, wounding the suspect in both legs. The 48-year-old suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. On March 24th, 1936, he was executed by hanging at the Marion County Jail in Indianapolis. He was the second person to be tried and the first person sentenced to death under a federal law allowing the death penalty for the murder of a federal agent. Special Agent Klein had served with the Federal Bureau of Investigation for nine years. He was survived by his wife and three children. One of Special Agent Klein's sons, Special Agent Nelson Klein Jr., was killed in the line of duty on May 29th, 1969, while also serving with the FBI.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-FED-E4AE6E64
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Agent Klein gave the United States Department of Justice 9 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Klein.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usdjfbifed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 16, 1935

Tour of Duty 9 yrs

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Executed in 1936

Special Agent Nelson B. Klein, Sr. is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, 37 of 89 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 41.6% of this agency's fallen.

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation

of 89 officers

41.6% Felonious

DC — Statewide

754

of 1,419 officers

53.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious