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John C. Knight
Agency patch
Police Officer

John C. Knight

Chicago Police Department — Chicago, IL
Felonious
United States flag Illinois flag
End of Watch January 9, 1999
Age 38
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
The Vigil Panel 145 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 570

Incident

Officer John C. Knight was shot and killed as he and his partner were investigating two suspicious individuals in a parked vehicle. Both officers noticed the vehicle with a popped trunk, and two occupants slumped over on the inside. As they approached the vehicle, the men sped off, and a short chase ensued.

The vehicle crashed into a parked car at 99th and South Parnell. The occupants then opened fire on the officers. Officer Knight was struck twice in the head and once in the abdomen before he could exit the passenger side of the vehicle. His partner exited the vehicle and returned fire, striking one of the assailants.

As the second officer went to check on Officer Knight, the wounded gunman reloaded his weapon, returned to the scene, and opened fire, wounding the second officer in the hip.

Later, that gunman was found and arrested after officers tracked a blood trail in the snow. The handgun used was a Ruger 9 mm semiautomatic with a laser sight.

On January 27, 2004, Officer Knight's killer was found guilty of first-degree murder. He was also charged and found guilty of attempted first-degree murder of the second officer.

On January 28, 2004, during the penalty phase of the trial, a plea agreement was reached. The defendant pled guilty to an unrelated murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole. He also waived his right to appeal his conviction in Officer Knight's case.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Knight gave the Chicago Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Chicago community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Knight.

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

Agency

Department Chicago Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Chicago, Cook County, IL
Platform Identity cpd.cook.il.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 9, 1999
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 38
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

The Sacrifice · Felonious

John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1999, 58 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 133rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 38. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. John had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Chicago Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer John C. Knight

Chicago Police Department · End of Watch January 9, 1999

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 42-E

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