Bio & Incident Details
Age: 34
Tour: 13 years
Badge # 3204
Cause: Gunfire
Incident Date: 12/16/1981
Weapon: Handgun
Suspect: Three sentenced to life in prison
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Police Officer Abruzzo was shot and killed when he attempted to intervene in the robbery of his father-in-law while off-duty. Officer Abruzzo's father-in-law had just returned home from work when three men approached him and struck him over the head with a gun. When Officer Abruzzo heard the commotion from inside his father-in-law's house, he ran out to assist. As he exited the house, unarmed, he called out to the suspects, "Police Officer". The suspects turned and opened fire at Officer Abruzzo, striking him in the chest. When Officer Abruzzo's wife and brother-in-law ran to his side to help, they were shot at by the suspect, but were not injured.
Officer Abruzzo was removed to Long Island Jewish Medical Center where he died from his wounds.
The suspects then fled the scene in a stolen car. They were apprehended six months later after they cashed checks that they had taken out of the stolen car. All three suspects were convicted of murder, attempted murder and attempted robbery and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
Officer Abruzzo had been a member of the New York City Police Department for 13 years and is survived by his wife and child. He was assigned to the 109th Precinct.
