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A New Castle County police officer was killed in the line of duty Thursday night.

Sgt. Joseph Szczerba, 44, an 18-year veteran of the department, was stabbed during a physical altercation with the suspect in the community of Penn Acres in New Castle.

Police had been called to the area around midnight for a disorderly subject and when Szczerba arrived he found a man who matched the description of the suspect.

The suspect had been involved in motor vehicle thefts in the area of Fithian Drive and was confronted by a 45-year-old victim of the thefts. After a foot chase, the suspect assaulted the victim and fled.

Szczerba responded to the area of East Roosevelt Avenue, where he approached the man who fit the suspect's description.

There was a foot pursuit and as Szczerba was taking the suspect into custody, he was fatally stabbed, said Cpl. John Weglarz, a spokesman for the department.

Szczerba was the first to respond to the incident. Other officers arrived to assist.

Three other officers substained minor injuries.

“Joe Szczerba was a good person and a great police officer," said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del). "I was shocked and deeply saddened to get the call that he had been murdered in the line of duty late last night."

Szczerba was taken to Christiana Hospital, after fellow officers performed CPR on him, and was prounced dead. The suspect remains in police custody.

"We mourn the loss of this brave and dedicated public servant," said New Castle County Executive, Paul G. Clark. "My deepest sympathies go out to the family, to his fellow officers, and to all who knew him."

Szczerba was from Wilmington and is survived by his wife.

"This is one of the saddest days in New Castle County history," Weglarz said.

Attorney General Beau Biden and Senator Tom Carper (D-Del) also offered their condolences to Szczerba's family and the New Castle County Police Department.

"My office will work nonstop to ensure that anyone responsible for the death of this dedicated public servant is held responsible for this senseless crim," Biden said.

The investigation is ongoing.