On February 21, 1993, Patrolman Brett David Markwood, aged 30, of the Lancaster Police Department in Ohio, was shot and killed while pursuing a suspect. Markwood and other officers had responded to a report of an armed robbery at a Dairy Mart store. They followed footprints in the fresh snow, which led them to the suspect. During the chase, the suspect turned a corner and shot Markwood in the face at close range.
The suspect was arrested shortly after, having attempted to submerge himself in a nearby creek.
The suspect, identified as John Wesley Frazier, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Frazier died in prison on January 31, 2011. Markwood had served with the Lancaster Police Department for three years and is survived by his wife.
Markwood's death was a tragic event that deeply affected his family and the community. His parents, Richard and Carol Markwood, have been reminded of their son's loss daily since the incident. The stretch of U.S. 22 from Memorial Drive to U.S. 33 was named the Officer Brett Markwood Memorial Highway in his honor.
Markwood's widow, Maureen, sang "Ave Maria" at his funeral, which was attended by over 300 police cruisers lining the streets. His death remains a poignant memory for those who knew him and serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers every day.
