Hallandale Beach Police Department, Florida
End of Watch Friday, July 27, 1973
Add to My HeroesAustin Hepburn, Jr.
Officer Austin Hepburn was shot and killed by a man in a stolen vehicle in front of 516 NW Sixth Street.
He observed two men and a juvenile attempting to change the license plate on the car. As he approached the group, one of the men grabbed him. A second suspect exited the car and shot him with both loads of a double-barreled shotgun.
Two suspects, 16 and 18, were apprehended three hours later. The 25-year-old killer was apprehended the next day in Waycross, Georgia, by state troopers. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life. He was paroled on September 28, 2001. Charges against the other two were dropped.
Officer Hepburn was a Vietnam War veteran and served two years with the Hallandale Beach Police Department.
Bio
- Age 26
- Tour 2 years
- Badge Not available
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Shotgun; 12 gauge
- Offender Paroled in 2001
Most Recent Reflection
View all 23 ReflectionsMy family knew Austin when he worked at a Radio Shack next door to our ice cream shop in West Hollywood. I was a teenager and Austin was inspirational to me. We did learn he became a police officer and were devastated at his loss.
Peter Cherberg
USAF Retired
November 5, 2023
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