Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi
End of Watch: Friday, March 23, 1984
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 4 months
Badge Number: M-11
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 23, 1984
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Trooper Steven Gardner was shot and killed by a suspect he had arrested earlier in the night.
The suspect bonded out of jail, changed cars, and began searching for Trooper Gardner. After several hours, the suspect located Trooper Gardner parked on the side of Highway 51 near Hazelhurst doing paperwork. At 10:45 p.m., The suspect then intentionally struck Trooper Gardner's patrol car.
Trooper Gardner notified dispatch he had been involved in an accident and was checking on the other driver. As he approached the car, he was shot in the chest. The round struck him in between the panels of his vest. As he fell to the ground, he was able to return fire and kill the suspect.
The ensuing investigation determined that the suspect had searched for Trooper Gardner for most of the night and that Trooper Gardner did not immediately recognize him because he had switched cars.
Trooper Gardner had served with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety - Mississippi Highway Patrol for four months. He was survived by his parents.
A portion of United States Highway 51 South of Hazlehurst has been dedicated to Trooper Gardner.