On the evening of January 23, 2020, tragedy struck a residential neighborhood in Fenton, Missouri, when 66-year-old male John D. Colter lost his life while heroically defending his daughter from an armed attacker. Colter, a respected pharmacist known in the community for his dedication to his family and profession, was at the home of his daughter, Kristine Kempf, when the violent sequence of events began.
Kristine had recently separated from her husband, 45-year-old James Kempf, and had obtained an order of protection against him due to previous threats. Despite legal restrictions, James Kempf entered the home that night, lying in wait for his estranged wife.
When Kristine discovered her husband inside the residence, he opened fire, striking her in the leg and ankle. Hearing the gunshots and his daughter's screams, Colter, who had been outside tending to his grandchildren, immediately ran into the house to intervene. Without hesitation for his own safety, he tackled James Kempf in the living room, initiating a desperate physical struggle for control of the weapon. During the altercation, Colter yelled for his wounded daughter to flee the premises. His courageous intervention provided Kristine the critical seconds she needed to escape the house and seek safety at a neighbor’s residence, ultimately surviving her injuries.
Inside the home, the confrontation reached a fatal conclusion when James Kempf managed to shoot Colter, killing him at the scene. Following the murder, Kempf fled the area, sparking a massive manhunt across the region. Local authorities, including the St. Louis County Police Department, launched an extensive search operation utilizing drones and canine units to scour nearby wooded areas. In the days following the shooting, prosecutors charged James Kempf in absentia with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and multiple counts of armed criminal action.
The search for the fugitive lasted for more than a week, extending beyond state lines. Eight days after the shooting, on January 31, 2020, law enforcement officers located James Kempf in rural northwest Arkansas. Before authorities could take him into custody, Kempf died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. In recognition of his selfless sacrifice, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission later posthumously awarded John D. Colter the Carnegie Medal, North America's highest honor for civilian heroism, acknowledging that he had given his life to save his daughter.
