New York City Police Department, New York
End of Watch Monday, March 5, 1973
Add to My HeroesIrving E. Wright
Officer Irving Wright was accidentally shot and killed while off-duty by two Police Officers who mistook him for an offender.
Officer Wright was off-duty and working a security job at a grocery store when a man entered with a gun and held up the store. After the man exited, Patrolman Wright drew his .38 caliber off-duty revolver and began to chase the suspect. Patrolman Wright chased the suspect south on St. Nicholas Avenue, then west on 111th Street and then north on Seventh Avenue, exchanging gunfire with the suspect the entire time.
Two on-duty officers saw Officer Wright running with a gun in his hand near the corner of 111th Street but did not see the suspect because he ran west on 111th street and hid under a parked car. The two patrolmen exited their patrol car and yelled "Freeze!, Drop your gun!". Officer Wright did stop at first but then spun around toward the officers. As he turned, his gun accidentally discharged. Both uniformed officers opened fire, striking Officer Wright six times. He was rushed to St. Luke's Hospital, where he died from his wounds.
The suspect who robbed the store was apprehended and charged with Robbery and Criminal Possession of a Weapon.
Officer Wright was a United States Air Force veteran and served with the New York City Police Department for seven years, assigned to the 20th precinct. He was survived by his three daughters, son and three brothers, two of whom where New York City Police Officers and a third who was an Assemblyman in the New York State Assembly.
He is buried at Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort, Beaufort County, South Carolina.
Bio
- Age 34
- Tour 7 years
- Badge 16544
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire (Inadvertent)
Most Recent Reflection
View all 21 ReflectionsI attended your Memorial at the 20th Pct. today. I met many of your family and extended family. Many of them were either active or retired Officers. Your two daughters were lovely and really appreciated it when I told them I was in the 20th Pct. with you and played on the 20th pct . basketball team with you. Your LOD death was a tragedy and I am sure you were greatly missed by all. RIP
PO Robert Manzi
NYPD
March 12, 2023
Recent LODD Deaths
Police Officer Kyle Hicks
Corpus Christi Police Department, TX
EOW: April 24, 2024
Investigator John Hampton Coddou, III
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: April 23, 2024
Police Officer Jordan Wingate
Oakland Police Department, CA
EOW: April 20, 2024
Police Officer Luis M. Huesca
Chicago Police Department, IL
EOW: April 21, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Tobin Bolter
Ada County Sheriff's Office, ID
EOW: April 21, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Alfredo "Freddy" Flores
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
EOW: April 20, 2024
Investigator Brian Herbert
Osage Nation Police Department, TR
EOW: April 17, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Fred Fislar
Hendricks County Sheriff's Office, IN
EOW: April 16, 2024
Police Officer Michael E. Jensen
Syracuse Police Department, NY
EOW: April 14, 2024