Sergeant Brant Nine was shot and killed when he and another officer responded to a report of a person who was passing a fraudulent check at Newcomer's Jewelers.

   He had entered the store and attempted to arrest the suspect when a struggle ensued. The man grabbed Sergeant Nine's service weapon and shot him once in the chest.

   As the suspect exited the store and attempted to flee, he was confronted by the other officer where gunfire was exchanged, leaving the suspect injured.

   Sergeant Nine was taken to Elkhart General Hospital where he was dead on arrival.

   The 24-year-old suspect later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 60 years for murder and 50 years for attempted murder. In January 2014, his clemency petition was denied.

   The other responding officer, Phillip D. Hochstetler, was killed in the line of duty while serving with the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department on June 29, 1994.

   Sergeant Nine was survived by his wife, daughter, stepson, stepdaughter, granddaughter, three brothers and four sisters.