On the night of March 23, 1986, James Holmes, a 47-year-old male police officer, was visiting a friend at 361 Livonia Avenue in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. At approximately 10:25 p.m., while entering the building, he was confronted by a man who attempted to rob him. Officer Holmes, who was off-duty at the time, resisted the robbery attempt.
A struggle ensued, during which the assailant managed to knock Holmes unconscious.
After rendering the officer unconscious, the attacker stole his service weapon and initially fled the scene. However, in a brutal turn of events, the suspect quickly returned to where Officer Holmes lay helpless and shot him multiple times in the stomach and chest. The severity of his injuries proved fatal, and he could not be revived after being transported to Brookdale Hospital. At the time of his death, James Holmes had served with the New York City Housing Authority Police Department for 17 years.
The investigation into the murder led to an arrest after a 21-year-old man on probation for a prior robbery confided in his probation officer that he believed he might be wanted for the killing of a police officer. The suspect, Alexander Evans, was taken into custody and subsequently convicted of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. For his crimes, he was sentenced to 32 and a half years to life in prison. In a posthumous recognition of his bravery, Officer Holmes was awarded the Medal of Honor on September 4, 1986.
