On September 12, 1991, Hector Antonio Fontanez-Diaz, a 26-year-old Hispanic male, lost his life in the line of duty as a New York City Police Officer. A five-year veteran of the force, he was assigned to the 47th Precinct in the Bronx. The tragic events unfolded in the afternoon after police received a report of a man brandishing a gun while riding a bicycle in the Parkchester area of the Bronx.
Officer Fontanez-Diaz and his partner responded to the call, searching the vicinity for
approximately 45 minutes before they spotted a man who matched the description. The individual entered the courtyard of an apartment complex on Eastchester Road, and Officer Fontanez-Diaz, taking the lead, pursued him on foot into an alley. In the ensuing confrontation, the suspect fired his weapon multiple times, striking Fontanez-Diaz. Despite being mortally wounded, Officer Fontanez-Diaz managed to return fire, hitting the suspect five times.
The suspect, identified as 18-year-old David Barracks, was apprehended at the scene. He was subsequently tried and convicted of the murder of Officer Fontanez-Diaz. A sentence of 25 years to life in prison was handed down, with his first eligibility for parole in 2016. Officer Fontanez-Diaz was survived by his mother and brother.
