Arlington County Police Department, Virginia
End of Watch: Wednesday, October 25, 1972
Age: 25
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: 334
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 25, 1972
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Not available
Police Officer Israel Gonzalez was shot and killed during a robbery of the Arlington Trust Company at 2001 Jefferson Davis Highway in Crystal City.
The robbers, a father, and his two sons had planned the robbery for months. After cutting the phone lines to the bank, the two sons entered, posing as phone company employees. They took the manager to a back room where they announced the robbery.
A customer became suspicious after the phone lines went dead and alerted Officer Gonzalez, whom he had seen outside of the bank. In the meantime, the bank manager attempted to escape from the bank room and was shot and killed. The suspects also wounded a teller who was in the room as well. As the three fled they encountered Officer Gonzelez and exchanged shots. Officer Gonzalez was shot six times and fatally wounded. However, he was able to return fire and wounded one of the suspects.
The three suspects along with a fourth man drove to Houston, Texas, where they killed an airline ticket agent as they hijacked a plane to Cuba. They remained in Cuba for three years before returning to the United States and turning themselves in.