Officer Robert J. Stanze II was 29 when he was killed on August 8, 2000, during an arrest in St. Louis. Stanze and his partner had handcuffed a suspect and placed him in the back of their cruiser at Marcus Avenue and St. Louis Avenue. While the officers stood outside the vehicle, the suspect produced a concealed handgun and fired from inside the car. A bullet struck Stanze in the side, penetrating between the panels of his bulletproof vest; his partner returned fire and wounded the shooter.

The man identified in connection with the killing was Harold Richardson. Reports state Richardson had been using an alias and was also wanted in California for statutory rape. In December 2001 Richardson pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life without parole to avoid a potential death sentence.

Stanze had served six years with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and left behind a wife and young son; his wife was expecting twins at the time. Does anyone have memories of Officer Stanze or information about the case to share?