In the line of duty, 35-year-old male New York City Transit Police Officer Robert Venable was killed on September 22, 1987, in Brooklyn, New York. On that evening, Officer Venable and his partners were transporting prisoners when they were diverted to a report of armed individuals at an abandoned building on Pitkin Avenue.
As the officers approached the location, they encountered the armed men. One of the suspects, identified as 22-year-old Francisco Rodriguez, opened fire and struck Officer Venable. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries three hours later. At the time of the shooting, Rodriguez had only been out of prison on parole for 42 days.
Following the shooting, Francisco Rodriguez was apprehended. He was subsequently convicted of second-degree murder for the death of Officer Venable and also faced charges for drug possession. For the murder, Rodriguez was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, with an additional 12.5 years for the drug charge.
