Roll of Honor
Incident
Corporal Scott Severns succumbed to gunshot wounds suffered two days earlier while attempting to take police action during a robbery when he was off duty.
Corporal Severns was walking to his car with a friend when two men approached and attempted to rob them. One man was armed with a handgun. Corporal Severns drew his gun and stepped in front of his friend while pushing 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. Corporal Severns was taken to a local hospital where he died two days later.
Both suspects were apprehended following the shooting and charged with murder. The juvenile suspect who shot Corporal Severns was charged as an adult and later pleaded guilty to murder and attempted robbery. He was sentenced to 65 years with the opportunity of parole in 30 years. The other suspect was convicted of attempted robbery and sentenced to 45 years. His sentence was later reduced to 30 years.
Corporal Severns was a third-generation officer with the South Bend Police Department and had served for eight years.
Survivors
He is survived by his parents, sister, and half-brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-0BDD4BE8- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Corporal Severns gave the South Bend Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the South Bend community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Severns.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corporal Scott Lee Severns is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In IN, 311 of 503 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.8% of this state's fallen. That is 61.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At South Bend Police Department, 11 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 73.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Scott Lee Severns's cause is highlighted.
How Scott Lee Severns Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Scott Lee Severns is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Scott Lee Severns was killed by handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from South Bend Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
