In the late hours of the evening, Patrolman Lewis Keller, a dedicated officer with the South Bend Police Department, was dutifully walking his beat, checking the security of the local businesses under his watch. A veteran of the Civil War, having served with the 21st Indiana Battery, Keller was no stranger to conflict and danger. His commitment to law enforcement was a family affair, with a brother who had also served on the South Bend force and a son who would go on to join the Metropolitan
Police Department. For eleven years, he had served and protected the citizens of South Bend, first as a deputy marshal and then as a patrolman.
On this particular night, his sharp eyes caught something amiss—an open door at a cigar store. Sensing trouble, he entered the establishment to investigate. In the darkness, a shot rang out, aimed directly at him. Keller, with the instincts of a seasoned officer, returned fire. The ensuing shootout was a chaotic and violent exchange that left both the brave patrolman and one of the suspects mortally wounded. His wife and two sons would be left to mourn the loss of a husband and father who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
The aftermath of the tragic event saw the apprehension of four other individuals involved in the burglary. The suspect who was fatally wounded in the gunfight with Patrolman Keller was not the only one to face justice. In 1898, one of the apprehended suspects was tried, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison for his role in the crime that led to the death of a respected officer. This individual would later make unsuccessful attempts to escape his fate in 1904 and 1917, but he would remain imprisoned for his part in the untimely death of Patrolman Lewis Keller.
