U.S. Army · United States

Donald Knepple

1997

Life Service Also Served In Our Keeping

Donald R. Knepple served the U.S. Army for 2 years. Donald also served in the U.S. Army.

How He Died

Manner Homicide

Cause Gunshot wound

Mechanism Firearm

What Happened

Probation Officer Donald Knepple was shot and killed after being ambushed by a man at a counseling center on South Calhoun Street in Fort Wayne.

The suspect, a former juvenile corrections officer who had been convicted of attempted child molestation, had arranged a meeting with his counselor and Probation Officer Knepple with the intent of murdering them both. As the meeting took place at about 10:00 am, the suspect fatally shot both of them in the head before he fled to the rear of the center and committed suicide. At the time of the incident Probation Officer Knepple, like other officers in his department, were not armed.

Probation Officer Knepple had served with the Allen County Adult Probation Department for 12 years. He was a US Army veteran of the Vietnam War and an Air National Guard reservist.

Survivors

Probation Officer Knepple was survived by his wife, 16-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter.

Service Record

U.S. Army

1968 – 1970

U.S. Army

Also Served

Allen County Adult Probation Department

Probation Officer

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In Our Keeping

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Last updated August 2, 2026

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