On February 17, 1936, at approximately 7:00 p.m. Sergeant Chillingworth was off-duty in a restaurant when he recognized a wanted escapee from the Territorial Hospital in Kaneohe.  The male had eluded capture for a few weeks since his escape.

Sergeant Chillingworth approached the male and attempted to place him under arrest when the suspect ran out the rear door of the restaurant.  Sergeant Chillingworth pursued the fleeing suspect.

Sergeant Chillingworth, unarmed at the time, gave chase and caught the suspect a few minutes later. A scuffle ensued and Sergeant Chillingworth was mortally stabbed by the suspect. Sergeant Chillingworth later died from his injury.  The suspect was captured by police.