On the late evening of May 6, 1995, Franklin Township, New Jersey police Sergeant Ippolito Lee Gonzalez, 40, was shot and killed during a traffic stop. Gonzalez was near the end of his shift when he stopped a vehicle that contained two men later identified as Robert Mudman Simon and Charles Shovel Staples, who had just committed a burglary. While Gonzalez was checking a license, Simon produced a firearm, shot him in the neck, and then delivered a second, fatal shot to the head. Gonzalez was able to radio for backup before he died.

Both suspects fled but were captured after a vehicle pursuit ended with Staples crashing; both tried to run and were taken into custody, and Simon was struck in the leg by an officer’s return fire. At trial both men were convicted, including felony murder counts. Staples was sentenced to 30 years to life; Simon was sentenced to death as the triggerman. Simon was later killed by another inmate on September 7, 1999. Gonzalez was a 20-year veteran and his funeral drew more than 1,000 attendees.

If anyone knew Sergeant Gonzalez, saw that vehicle on May 6, 1995, or has information about the burglary tied to the stop, please share what is known.