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Incident Details

Cause of Death:
Gunfire
Date/Time of Incident:
Saturday, December 13, 1924
04:15 pm
Incident to Death Duration:
Same day
Incident Location:
County Road 101 north of County Road 12
Incident County:
Elkhart
Incident Township:
Cleveland
Weapon Used:
.45-caliber handgun
Suspect Disposition:
Killed by police

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Elkhart Police Department

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Patrolman Henry William Wentz

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Patrolman
Henry William Wentz
Elkhart Police Department
Saturday, December 13, 1924

Panel 33W, Line 9
Panel L19, Line 7

   Patrolman Henry Wentz was shot and killed after he and other officers responded to a shooting at a roadhouse.

   A highly intoxicated man had reportedly just killed the 48-year-old female proprietor and wounded one of its patrons. The suspect fled on foot, chasing another female patron, about a quarter mile northeast from the roadhouse.

   When two sheriff's deputies and another Elkhart police officer arrived with Patrolman Wentz, he was shot in his left leg as they exited their patrol car.

   He gave his gun to a county prosecutor, who was also riding with them, to assist in pursuing the suspect in which one of the sheriff's deputies was wounded.

   Patrolman Wentz was taken to Elkhart General Hospital but had bled to death from the wound that had penetrated his femoral artery.

   The 35-year-old man was shot and killed by the other Elkhart police officer.

   Patrolman Wentz was survived by his wife, brother and two sisters.


Personal Details

Age: 51
Law Enforcement Service:
10 years
Burial Place:
Rice Cemetery, Elkhart