On November 13, 1989, Detective Keith L. Williams, a 34-year-old male, was tragically killed in the line of duty in Queens, New York. Williams, a respected member of the Queens District Attorney's Squad, was transporting a prisoner, Jay 'Stoney' Harrison, back to Rikers Island with his partner, Detective Richard J. Guerzon. The detectives were on the Grand Central Parkway in Elmhurst when the unthinkable happened.
Harrison, who had managed to acquire a stolen firearm, opened fire from the backseat, shooting both detectives.
The brazen attack left both Williams and Guerzon with fatal injuries. Following the shooting, Harrison attempted to flee in the detectives' vehicle but was unsuccessful. He then fled on foot towards LaGuardia Airport, sparking a massive manhunt. The search for the suspect lasted for ten hours, culminating in his capture at his girlfriend's house in the East New York section of Brooklyn. Harrison was promptly arrested and faced a litany of charges for his heinous actions.
Jay 'Stoney' Harrison was charged with murder, escape, and criminal possession of a weapon. The subsequent legal proceedings found him guilty of the cold-blooded killings of the two detectives. He was sentenced to life in prison for his crimes, bringing a measure of justice to the families of the fallen officers. The tragic event led to significant changes in police procedures regarding the handling and transport of prisoners to prevent such a devastating incident from occurring again.
