On a cold December night in 1980, a dedicated 42-year-old male police officer, Gabriel Vitale, was on foot patrol in Flushing, Queens. While investigating a burglary near 35th Avenue and 150th Street on December 15th, he and his partner noticed two suspicious men. As the officers approached to question them, the men suddenly fled in opposite directions, sparking a pursuit. Vitale managed to catch and subdue one of the suspects at gunpoint.
In a moment of concern for his partner's safety, he holstered his weapon to use his radio. It was then that the suspect seized the opportunity, drawing a. 45 caliber handgun and opening fire, critically wounding the 15-year veteran of the New York City Police Department. Gabriel Vitale succumbed to his injuries nine days later, on December 24, 1980.
The ensuing investigation quickly identified the suspects as two 25-year-old brothers. One of the brothers barricaded himself in his apartment, leading to a tense standoff with police. During the confrontation, he threw a grenade at the officers, which fortunately failed to detonate. He was ultimately shot and taken into custody. Fifteen days after the fatal shooting of Officer Vitale, his killer, the other brother, was apprehended at a hotel in Times Square.
The two brothers faced a series of serious charges. On July 27, 1981, they, along with two other individuals, were charged in the stabbing death of a drug dealer that had occurred on August 30, 1980. The legal process for Officer Vitale's murder concluded on December 21, 1982, when the brother who fired the fatal shots was convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. His brother also received a 25-years-to-life sentence for throwing the grenade at the arresting officers. The following year, on February 22, 1983, both brothers were also convicted for the murder of the drug dealer. The brother responsible for Officer Vitale's death will be eligible for parole in 2042, while his sibling will be eligible in 2032.
