In the early morning hours of December 28, 1991, off-duty New York City Police Sergeant Keith Levine was murdered in Manhattan. The 27-year-old male was with friends when he witnessed an armed robbery in progress at an ATM on West 57th Street. Unhesitatingly, he intervened.
Sgt. Levine began to chase the suspect, who then opened fire. Levine was struck twice, once in the abdomen and once in the chest, and later died at Bellevue Hospital.
His killer was identified as Michael Alston, who was on parole at the time for two prior homicide convictions. Alston was apprehended and subsequently convicted of second-degree murder. He received a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
Michael Alston has since become eligible for parole and has been denied on multiple occasions. The case continues to draw attention from police advocacy groups who oppose his release, citing the violent nature of the crime and Alston's criminal history.
