Gabriel Jesus Torres, a 29-year-old Hispanic male, tragically lost his life on October 13, 2022, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Gabriel, a dedicated Raleigh Police Officer and former United States Marine, was shot and killed while attempting to investigate a series of gunshots heard in the Hedingham neighborhood. Shortly after 5:00 p.m., Gabriel hung up the phone with his wife after telling her he was going to locate the area of gunfire that they both heard.
He was in his car when a juvenile suspect ambushed him before he could exit his vehicle. Gabriel was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.
The juvenile suspect, aged 15, had gone on a shooting spree throughout his neighborhood, killing his brother and three other people. One person survived their wounds. When the shooter was found two miles away, he engaged in a shootout with police, wounding an officer. The juvenile was apprehended and has been charged as an adult for five counts of murder and two for attempted murder. His father pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of failing to store a firearm in a manner to protect a juvenile and was sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation.
Gabriel Torres was a family man, a doting husband, and the sweetest dad. He was survived by his wife, daughter, mother, father, brother, and sister. In 2024, the Gabe Torres Act was passed, which classifies law enforcement officers en route to work as on duty. Gabriel's death has been ruled as an "in line of duty" death, which will give state benefits to his family. The Raleigh Police Department held a wreath-laying ceremony to honor his memory.
