Puerto Rico Police Department, Puerto Rico
End of Watch: Tuesday, April 2, 2002
Age: 52
Tour of Duty: 29 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 2, 2002
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Not available
Agent Jose Garcia-Baez was shot and killed when a person tried to steal his service weapon in front of a grocery store in the community of Hato Tejas, in Bayamon.
The suspect attempted to steal the service weapon from Agent Garcia-Baez, who was in uniform and assisting with security at the store, while the grocery store was closing. During the scuffle Agent Garcia-Baez was shot five times and died hours later in the hospital. The owner of the store was also shot and killed.
Agent Garcia-Baez served with the Puerto Rico Police Department for 29 years, and was assigned to the Precint 132 of Guaynabo. He is survived by his wife and three children.