on february 29, 1856, kanasket was leading a group towards an army camp at lemmon's prairie, when they were spotted by a private kehl. kehl shot kanasket, who was at the lead of the group. kanasket was paralyzed from the waist down from being shot in the spine. his companions fled, while he was dragged into the camp. carrying on him a kentucky rifle, a spear, and a butcher knife, kanasket attempted to attack with the knife, but was subdued by two men. when one of the soldiers recognized him, kanasket said in the chinook jargon, ""kanasket-tyee-mamalouse nica-nica mamalouse bostons"" ("i'm kanasket, chief, kill me, for i kill "bostons""). he reportedly went on to state "my heart is wicked towards the whites, and always will be, and you had better kill me." silas casey ordered that he be hung, and he began to yell out in his own language, and erasmus keyes presumed he was yelling for help, as two shots had been fired at the camp, so corporal o'shaughnessy shot him in the head.