In the fall of 1999, the community of Washington Township, New Jersey, was shaken by the loss of one of its own. Corporal Steven L. Levy, a 35-year-old Caucasian male, died on October 21, 1999. He was a dedicated member of the Washington Township Police Department, where he had served for 13 years. His death occurred in the line of duty, a somber reminder of the perils faced by law enforcement officers.
The events that led to Corporal Levy's death began with a response to a domestic disturbance. As a member of a county-wide Critical Incident Team, he was called to a standoff situation. Upon entering the residence with the SWAT team, they attempted to locate the suspect who had barricaded himself inside a bedroom. As Corporal Levy approached the closed bedroom door, the suspect fired a weapon through it.
Corporal Levy was struck in the head and, despite wearing body armor, sustained a fatal injury.
He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. The man who fired the fatal shot took his own life immediately after the shooting. It was later revealed that the suspect had a prior conviction for a weapons violation and was prohibited from possessing firearms. In the wake of the tragic event, no arrests were made as the sole suspect was deceased. The incident left behind a grieving family, including a wife and two young children.
