Trooper Steven K. Gardner
Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Highway Patrol
Mississippi
End of Watch: Friday, March 23, 1984

Biographical Info
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 1 year
Badge Number: M-11

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Friday, March 23, 1984
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed

Trooper Gardner was shot and killed by a suspect he had arrested earlier in the night. The suspect bonded out of jail, changed cars, and began searching for Trooper Gardner. After several hours the suspect located Trooper Gardner parked on the side Highway 51 near Hazelhurst doing paperwork. The suspect then intentionally struck Trooper Gardner's patrol car.

Trooper Gardner notified dispatch he had been involved in an accident and was checking on the other driver. As he approached the car he was shot in the chest. The round struck him in between the panels of his vest. As he fell to the ground he was able to return fire and kill the suspect.

The ensuing investigation determined that the suspect had searched for Trooper Gardner for most of the night and that Trooper Gardner did not immediately recognize him because he had switched cars.