In the summer of 2000, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officer Robert J. Stanze II, a 29-year-old male, was involved in a fatal encounter that cut his life short. On August 8th, Officer Stanze and his partner were arresting a suspect wanted in connection with the shooting of another police officer a week earlier.
The officers had successfully handcuffed the suspect and placed him in the back of their patrol car at the intersection of Marcus Avenue and St. Louis Avenue. As they stood outside the vehicle, the situation took a tragic turn. The suspect, who had managed to conceal a handgun, opened fire from within the cruiser. Officer Stanze, despite wearing a bulletproof vest, was struck in the side by a round that penetrated his torso between the protective panels. His partner returned fire, wounding the suspect.
The man responsible for Officer Stanze's death was identified as Harold Richardson. In December of 2001, to avoid a potential death sentence, Richardson pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Further investigation revealed that Richardson had been using an alias as he was also wanted for statutory rape in California.
Officer Stanze had been a dedicated member of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for six years. At the time of his death, he was a husband and a father to a young son, with his wife expecting twins.
