The April 20, 1995 shooting left two law enforcement members dead.
HADDON HEIGHTS -- On April 20, 1995, a borough police officer and Camden County Prosecutor's Office detective were gunned down while serving a search warrant on a child abuse suspect.
On Tuesday, 21 years after the tragic incident, Haddon Heights police reflected on the ultimate sacrifice made by Ptl. John Norcross and investigator John "Jack" McLaughlin
"The incident forever changed Haddon Heights, especially the families of the fallen officers and other emergency personnel who responded that day," the department said in a Facebook announcement marking the anniversary.
Haddon Heights remembers shooting
"[Haddon Heights Police Department] would like to extend another 'thank you' to all that answered our calls for assistance that day," the post continued. "Most importantly, we would also like everyone to take a moment and reflect on the ultimate sacrifice that [Norcross] and [McLaughlin] gave for our community."
The officers were attempting to serve a warrant on Leslie Nelson, who had barricaded herself inside a home and was armed with an AK-47. John Norcross' older brother, Haddon Heights police Detective Richard Norcross, was also shot during the 14-hour standoff, but ultimately survived.
Nelson, who had undergone a sex change three years prior to the shooting, ultimately received a sentence of life in prison after being convicted of murder as a result of the officers' deaths.
According to a February 2016 philly.com article, Nelson's appeal of ineffective counsel during sentencing shot down by a two-judge panel.
To mark the 20th anniversary of the shooting, family and friends gathered to re-dedicate a memorial clock at borough hall in memory of the officers.
"I try not to think about it as a day where we lost friends and husbands and fathers and sons," McLaughlin's daughter, Victoria McLaughli, said at last year's event. "I try to think about it as a day in which husbands and fathers and sons changed the world a little bit, and tried to make it better."
Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find NJ.com on Facebook.