In the winter of 1946, a wave of audacious armed robberies was plaguing New York City, prompting the Bronx Detectives to implement a plan of planting officers in shops deemed likely targets. On the evening of December 13th, Detective James J. Burke, a 49-year-old male with a distinguished 25-year career, found himself stationed inside Ray's Liquor store at 1439 Webster Avenue in the Bronx.
For about an hour, an uneasy quiet filled the store until, at approximately 6:07 p.m., two armed men burst in and announced a holdup. The only other person present, the owner's son, quickly ducked behind the counter for safety.
From his concealed position behind a stack of packing cases, Detective Burke emerged with his firearm drawn, immediately exchanging fire with the assailants. In the ensuing volley of bullets, Burke was struck twice in the head and tragically died at the scene. The would-be robbers, though they riddled the shop with bullets, fled without any money, leaving behind a scene of violence and a fallen officer. The sudden and violent death of the highly decorated detective, who was personally known by the Police Commissioner and described by the Bronx District Attorney as one of his closest and most intelligent friends, sent shockwaves through the city.
An intensive investigation was immediately launched, with a squad of about 35 detectives scouring the area for the perpetrators who had initially escaped with only a limited description. The breakthrough in the case came in February of 1947, when a comment from a burglary suspect put investigators on the trail of 34-year-old George Moore and 24-year-old Raymond Haughton, both ex-convicts with significant criminal records. After an intense interrogation, Moore confessed to his involvement and implicated Haughton as the one who fired the fatal shots.
Moore and Haughton were swiftly indicted and charged with first-degree murder, with six other individuals held as material witnesses. Their trial lasted nine days, and it took the jury a mere 35 minutes to return a guilty verdict for both men. On April 14, 1947, they were sentenced to death. Despite an appeal, their convictions were upheld, and on July 22, 1948, both George Moore and Raymond Haughton were executed for the murder of Detective James J. Burke.
