United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Wednesday, July 30, 1980
Age: 41
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 30, 1980
Weapon Used: Handgun; .22 caliber
Suspect Info: Not available
Customs Officer Roger Von Amelunxen was shot and killed near the intersection of 72nd Street and 34th Avenue, in Queens, New York, after observing the robbery of a cab driver at 3:20 am.
He was on his way home from his shift at Kennedy Airport when he intervened in the robbery even though he was off duty.
A shootout ensued and Officer Von Amelunxen was struck in the heart with a .22 caliber round.
The case remained unsolved until 1986 when four men were charged with his murder.
Officer Von Amelunxen had served with the United States Customs Service for nine years and had previously served with the Federal Air Marshal Service.