Deputy Joseph John Matuskovic was 43 when he was shot and killed in West Ashley, South Carolina, on Monday, September 8, 2014. A veteran law enforcement officer with more than 20 years of service, he was a deputy with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office and had previously been a Sergeant with the City of Charleston Police Department.

Deputies had responded to a disturbance at an apartment complex on Ashley River Road at Carriage Lane after reports of a man pounding on doors and vehicles and then retreating to his apartment. When officers attempted contact, the man opened fire through his apartment door with a military-style rifle described as similar to an AK-47. Deputy Matuskovic and another deputy were both struck despite wearing protective vests; both were taken to the Medical University of South Carolina, and Deputy Matuskovic later died of his wounds. Hours later, SWAT entered the suspect’s apartment and found the shooter, Michael Donovan Oswald, dead from at least two gunshot wounds sustained from deputies’ return fire.

If anyone has information about the events that night or knew Deputy Matuskovic, please share what you know.