Officer Van Meter was shot and killed while checking on a business. He had circled around the business and entered an alley when he was surprised by a suspect who shot him four times before fleeing. Officer Van Meter was able to return fire but did not strike the suspect. The prime suspect in the case, although never brought to justice for Officer Van Meter's murder, was also the prime suspect in the murder of Deputy Joe Price of the Fresno County Sheriff's Department.
Officer Van Meter had been with the agency for one year and was survived by his wife and child.
