Officer DeKeersgieter succumbed to a stab wound received ten days earlier after arresting a man for auto theft.

On March 13, at 4:30 am, Officer DeKeersgieter observed a suspect attempting to steal the car at 1518 LaSalle Street and took him into custody. He walked the suspect, Zollie Tate, to a call box at Grattan and Chouteau where he held onto the waistband of his pants as he placed a call to the station. As he called the incident in Tate suddenly produced a knife and cut Officer DeKeersgieter's face then fled. Officer DeKeersgieter was able to fire two shots at the suspect before collapsing. The police operator could not communicate with Officer DeKeersgieter but was aware he had opened the callbox and sent officers to his location. They found Officer DeKeersgieter semi-conscious, suffering from the loss of a great deal of blood. Initially it was believed he would survive his injuries. He was treated and released. On March 16 he suffered a paralytic stroke. He died of septic pneumonia at his home on March 23, 1936.

The suspect was later apprehended in Tennessee and charged with murder.

Officer DeKeersgieter was born in Belgium and served on the police department for 18 years, joining the department on May 17, 1918. He was survived by his wife and two children.