In the early morning hours of July 30, 1980, Roger Von Amelunxen, a 41-year-old white male, was on his way home from his job as a United States Customs Patrol Officer at Kennedy Airport. At approximately 3:20 a.m., near the intersection of 72nd Street and 34th Avenue in Queens, New York, he witnessed a cab driver being robbed. Despite being off-duty, Von Amelunxen chose to intervene to apprehend the suspect.
A shootout ensued between Von Amelunxen and the perpetrator.
Tragically, during the exchange of gunfire, he was struck in the heart by a single. 22 caliber round and died from the wound. For six years, the case of his murder remained unsolved, a lingering mystery for his family and fellow law enforcement officers. Von Amelunxen had served with the United States Customs Service for nine years and had previously been a Federal Air Marshal.
A significant breakthrough in the cold case came in 1986 when four men were arrested and charged with the murder of Roger Von Amelunxen. The arrests marked a pivotal moment in the long investigation, bringing a measure of hope that justice would be served. Unfortunately, details regarding the identities of the suspects, the specifics of the investigation that led to their capture after six years, and the final outcome of any subsequent trials or convictions are not available in the online sources covering this case.
