In a tragic turn of events on February 18, 2011, John M. Falcone, a 44-year-old male police officer, was fatally shot in Poughkeepsie, New York. An 18-year veteran of the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, Falcone was responding to a report of a shooting when he encountered a chaotic and dangerous scene. The incident began when 27-year-old Lee Welch shot and killed his estranged wife, Jessica Welch.
Following the initial shooting, Welch fled the scene with his three-year-old child.
Officer Falcone was the first to locate Welch, who was holding the child and a gun near the Poughkeepsie train station. In a selfless act of heroism, Falcone managed to safely separate the child from Welch, handing the toddler to a bystander. A struggle then ensued between Falcone and Welch as other officers arrived to assist. During this close-quarters confrontation, Welch fired at least two shots, one of which struck Falcone in the head.
After shooting Officer Falcone, Lee Welch turned the gun on himself, ending his own life at the scene. Falcone was rushed to a nearby hospital, but tragically succumbed to his injuries. Investigations confirmed that none of the other responding officers discharged their weapons, and that Welch was solely responsible for both Falcone's death and his own. In the wake of his death, John Falcone was posthumously promoted to the rank of Detective.
