Officer William Toney was shot and killed during a foot pursuit of a car theft suspect.

   The incident had begun when another officer spotted a suspicious van and attempted to stop it. The driver of the van fled with the officer in pursuit. Officer Toney joined the pursuit and chased the van until it crashed in a residential neighborhood. The driver of the vehicle fled on foot with Officer Toney in pursuit.

   During the foot chase the suspect turned and fired several shots, one of which struck Officer Toney in the throat above his bullet-resistant vest. He was able to return fire once but did not hit the suspect. Officer Toney was transported to Wishard Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

   The 20-year-old suspect was arrested in a nearby house several hours later after a search involving over 100 officers from several agencies. In a death penalty case, he was subsequently found guilty by a jury of murder, unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, auto theft and resisting law enforcement.

   On October 15, 2002, he was sentenced to death and is currently the only offender on Indiana death row for the murder of a law enforcement officer.

   Officer Toney's incident occurred one day before his 32nd birthday. He was survived by his wife, 18-month and 4-year-old daughters, two brothers, sister and mother.