In the late spring of 1990, a Queens man named Joseph 'Joe' Proce became a victim of a string of violent and seemingly random attacks that instilled fear across New York City. On May 31, 1990, Mr. Proce was shot in his lower back. The bullet caused severe damage, striking his kidney. Despite the grave injury, he survived the initial attack and was hospitalized.
For over three weeks, Joseph Proce fought for his life.
However, the damage inflicted by the gunshot wound proved to be too severe. On June 24, 1990, he succumbed to his injuries and passed away in the hospital. His death marked another tragic loss in a series of shootings that had been plaguing the city.
The investigation into the attacks eventually led police to a man named Heriberto Seda. Seda, who became known as the 'New York Zodiac Killer,' was driven by a twisted obsession with astrology and the original Zodiac Killer who had terrorized California decades earlier. He claimed to select his victims based on their astrological signs.
Heriberto Seda was arrested and stood trial for his violent spree. In a six-week trial, prosecutors presented a compelling case with testimony from 45 witnesses and 150 pieces of evidence. On June 24, 1998, exactly eight years to the day of Joseph Proce's death, a jury found Heriberto Seda guilty. He was subsequently sentenced to 232 years in prison for the murder of Joseph Proce and other crimes he committed during his reign of terror.
