Corporal Scott Severns died from gunshot wounds he suffered two days earlier while attempting to take police action during a robbery when he was off duty.

   He was walking to his car with a friend in a parking lot near an apartment complex when two men approached and attempted to rob them, one armed with a handgun.

   Corporal Severns drew his gun and stepped in front of his friend and pushed her to the ground as one suspect started firing. He managed to return fire, wounding the suspect, but not before suffering several bullet wounds himself.

   He was transported to Memorial Hospital where he died two days later from his injuries.

   Both suspects were apprehended following the shooting. The 17-year-old male suspect who shot Corporal Severns was charged as an adult, later pleaded guilty to murder and attempted robbery, and sentenced to 65 years in prison.

   The other suspect, an 18-year-old male, subsequently pleaded guilty to attempted robbery. He was initially sentenced to 45 years but later resentenced to 30 years in prison upon appeal and was discharged in March 2019.

   Corporal Severns was a third-generation officer with the South Bend Police Department. He was survived by his parents, sister and half brother.