On April 22, 1919, Officer Fenno was given information from a boy that a young woman had been insulted by a man on the corner of 23rd and Elmwood Avenue and that when the boy had tried to intervene, the man had struck him. While attempting to place the man under arrest, Officer Fenno was overcome by the suspect and the suspect ran, followed closely by Officer Fenno who fired two shots. The suspect stopped, and as the officer approached him, the suspect seized Officer Fenno's gun and shot Officer Fenno in the stomach. Officer Fenno died from his wounds. The suspect was arrested a short time later in the company of a young woman who had originally been the victim of his insults.