On the evening of January 31, 1992, Hilario 'Larry' Serrano, a 29-year-old off-duty New York City Police Officer, was in the elevator of his mother's apartment building on Andrews Avenue in the Morris Heights section of the Bronx. He was accompanied by his girlfriend when two men entered the elevator and attempted to rob them. A violent struggle and close-quarters gunfight erupted as the elevator ascended to the fourth floor.
Despite being mortally wounded with gunshots to his face, back, and foot, Officer Serrano managed to return fire and wound both of his assailants. The two men then fled the scene, taking Serrano's firearm with them. He was rushed to Lincoln Hospital but succumbed to his injuries just over an hour later. The male officer's dedication to public service was evident throughout his life; he had served as a member of the Guardian Angels and as an Auxiliary Police Officer before joining the NYPD, where he was assigned to the 43rd Precinct in the Bronx for six years.
The investigation into Officer Serrano's death moved swiftly, leading to the apprehension of both suspects who were subsequently charged with murder. In a turn of events, one of the accused individuals committed suicide two months after the incident. The second suspect, however, faced the full measure of the law and was ultimately convicted for the murder of Officer Hilario Serrano.
