In the late summer of 1935, the quiet town of College Corner, Indiana, became the backdrop for a violent encounter that would mark a solemn first in the history of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On August 16th, Special Agent Nelson B. Klein, a 37-year-old male investigator for the FBI, was fatally wounded in a gunfight with a known criminal named George Barrett. This event distinguished Klein as the first FBI agent to be killed in the line of duty.
The day of the fatal shooting, Agent Klein and his partner were actively searching for George Barrett, who was wanted on charges related to a stolen car ring. Barrett was a man with a history of run-ins with the law, including past involvement in moonshining. The agents tracked Barrett to the vicinity of his brother's home in College Corner. Having heard that federal agents were looking for him, Barrett had armed himself. When the agents located him, they ordered him to surrender, but Barrett fled.
A foot chase ensued, leading to an alley where the confrontation turned deadly. As Agent Klein pursued him, Barrett took cover and opened fire, shooting Klein five times. Despite being mortally wounded, Agent Klein returned fire, striking Barrett in both legs. Nelson Klein succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Following the shootout, George Barrett was taken into custody and received medical treatment for his leg wounds at a nearby hospital. After his recovery, he was transferred to Indianapolis to stand trial for the murder of a federal agent. Barrett was convicted of the crime. His case was notable as he became the first person to be executed under a new federal law that made killing an FBI special agent a capital offense. On March 24, 1936, George Barrett was executed by hanging for the murder of Special Agent Nelson Klein.
