First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Warrant Unit, Pennsylvania
End of Watch: Friday, March 19, 2004
Age: 53
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Badge Number: 20
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 19, 2004
Weapon Used: Handgun; .45 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to death
Sergeant Joseph LeClaire was shot and killed when he and two other court officers attempted to serve a warrant on the 4900 block of Stenton Avenue on a suspect wanted for failing to appear in court.
The officers arrived at the suspect's residence at 1:42 am and were admitted into the apartment by a female. When the officers entered the residence, the wanted man opened fire, striking Sergeant LeClaire in the head and stomach. One of the other officers was shot in the stomach and the third was shot in the hand.
At least one of the other officers was able to return fire and wounded the suspect as he attempted to flee. The man was taken into custody a short time later. Sergeant LeClaire was transported to Albert Einstein University Hospital where he was pronounced dead approximately 2 hours later.
The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death March 13, 2006.
Sergeant LeClaire was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He had been assigned to the Court of Common Pleas for nine years. He is survived by his wife and two grown children.