Brian Heywood Chappell was a 31-year-old West Palm Beach police officer killed on August 22, 1988, during a traffic stop on Malverne Road near South Dixie Highway. While conducting a speed enforcement stop, the driver leaned out and fired a single shot that struck Officer Chappell in the heart. He was able to call for assistance but died shortly afterward.

Because of the intense heat and humidity that day, Officer Chappell had left his bullet-resistant vest in his locker. The shooter, later identified as Norberto Spiderman Pietri, was an escapee from a prison work-release program. Pietri fled after the shooting, prompting a large manhunt; detectives apprehended him on August 24, 1988, after citizen tips and interagency cooperation.

Officer Chappell was a five-year veteran of the West Palm Beach Police Department and is survived by his parents, three brothers, and a sister. If anyone has information about Chappell’s last assignment or remembers the case, please share what you know.