Corporal Scott Lee Severns

Corporal Severns succumbed to gunshot wounds he received two days earlier during an attempted armed robbery. Corporal Severns was off-duty when two suspects tried to rob him and a friend outside of the local Boy Scout office in South Bend. One of the men was armed with a handgun.

Corporal Severns drew his gun, stepped in front of his friend and pushed her to the ground as the suspect started firing. Corporal Severns managed to return fire, wounding the suspect, but not before sustaining several bullet wounds himself.

Both suspects were apprehended following the shooting. The juvenile suspect who shot Corporal Severns was charged as an adult and later pleaded guilty to murder and attempted robbery. He was sentenced to 65 years with the opportunity of parole in 30 years. The other suspect was convicted of attempted robbery and sentenced to 45 years. His sentence was later reduced to 30 years.

Corporal Severns was a third-generation officer with the South Bend Police Department.