Officer Kenneth Shawn McWethy

Kenneth Shawn McWethy

Officer McWethy was shot and killed after searching for a suspicious man whom he observed running out of an auto parts store. Unbeknownst to Officer McWethy, the man had just robbed the store at gunpoint. Upon observing the individual run towards an alley he made a U-turn, radioed in his location and parked facing towards the alley. The suspect, however, had hidden in some bushes and ambushed Officer McWethy as he still sat in his cruiser.

The suspect walked up to the cruiser and opened fire from approximately ten feet away. Officer McWethy's vest stopped the first five rounds, but when he lifted his arm to protect himself he was shot several times in the chest. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The suspect was tried twice and ended with hung juries in both trials and never convicted of Officer McWethy's murder. He did plead guilty to armed robbery and being a habitual offender and was sentenced to a long prison term. He died in prison on July 28, 2002.

Officer McWethy was survived by his parents and several brothers.