Master Patrol Officer Steven J. Underwood of the Des Moines Police Department in Des Moines, Washington was shot and killed in the line of duty on March 7, 2001.
At 1:20 am, Underwood saw four suspicious men walking by the Legend Motel on Pacific Highway South. He contacted his dispatcher for back-up, saying he was stopping the group because he recognized one of them as a person wanted on a felony arrest warrant. A police sergeant arrived to find him with critical gunshot wounds.
Underwood died at Harborview Medical Center at 4:40 a.m.
Underwood was allegedly gunned down by 19-year-old Charles Champion. Champion is currently under arrest and will stand trial for aggravated first-degree murder.
A 6 year veteran of the force, Underwood is the only police officer to die in the line of duty in Des Moines. On July 11, 2001, the city of Des Moines dedicated the Steven J. Underwood Memorial Park in his honor.
Underwood is survived by his wife Rasathe Underwood, three year old son Estaban Underwood, and father Dick Underwood. He was 33.
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