Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Sunday, November 10, 2002
Age: 34
Tour of Duty: 10 years, 8 months
Badge Number: 6672
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 9, 2002
Weapon Used: Handgun; .41 caliber
Suspect Info: Died in prison
Trooper Joseph Sepp succumbed to a gunshot wound received the previous day at 2:30 am following a vehicle pursuit. Local officers had stopped a man suspected of drunk driving in Summerhill.
When the officers noticed the man had a gun, they ordered him out of the car. He instead fled in the car and led officers on a pursuit until he crashed into a patrol car and a utility pole in Ebensburg. When the suspect's vehicle crashed, the patrol units stopped in close proximity. The suspect exited his car and opened fire, striking Trooper Sepp in the head. Other officers returned fire and struck the suspect.
Trooper Sepp was transported to Memorial Medical Center, where he succumbed to his wound.
The suspect was charged with murder in connection with Trooper Sepp's death. He was convicted of first-degree murder on December 10, 2003. He was sentenced to life on December 11, 2003. The inmate died in prison on October 27, 2011.
Trooper Sepp had served with the Pennsylvania State Police for 10.5 years. He is survived by his wife, daughter, two sons, and his parents.