Baton Rouge Police Department, Louisiana
End of Watch: Saturday, May 22, 2004
Age: 51
Tour of Duty: 27 years
Badge Number: 743
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 22, 2004
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to death
Lieutenant Vickie Wax was shot and killed with her own service weapon during her attempt at handcuffing a shoplifting suspect.
She had succeeded in placing a handcuff on one hand and was attempting to cuff the other hand when a struggle ensued. Lieutenant Wax was knocked down, and she lost possession of her weapon. She was then shot. A store security guard and a customer, who had assisted her during the struggle, were also shot and seriously wounded.
The suspect escaped by carjacking a vehicle but later turned himself in. He was charged with first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree attempted murder, and several other charges. He was convicted of the charges and sentenced to death.
Lieutenant Wax had served with the Baton Rouge Police Department for 27 years. She is survived by her husband, father, two brothers, sister, and two nephews.