On the afternoon of Thursday, November 3, 1988, Sergeant Brant Allen ’Butch’ Nine, a 41-year-old veteran of the Nappanee Police Department, responded to Newcomer’s Jewelers on South Main Street after a report of a man attempting to pass a fraudulent check. Sergeant Nine and another officer entered the store and confronted the suspect. During the attempted arrest a struggle occurred and the suspect grabbed Sergeant Nine’s service weapon and fired a single shot that struck him in the chest.

The suspect fled but was met by the second officer; an exchange of gunfire left the suspect wounded. Sergeant Nine was taken to Elkhart General Hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival. He had served six years and seven months with the Nappanee Police Department and was a United States Army veteran who served in Vietnam.

The 24-year-old suspect was arrested, charged with murder and attempted murder, and later pleaded guilty. A judge sentenced him to a total of 110 years in prison, with 60 years for Sergeant Nine’s murder and 50 years for the attempted murder of the other officer. Anyone with information about Sergeant Nine, his final shift, or witnesses to the November 3, 1988 incident is asked to come forward.