Police Officer Edward R. Byrne

Edward R. Byrne

Police Officer Edward Byrne was shot and killed from ambush at the intersection of Inwood Street and 107th Avenue in South Jamaica, Queens, while protecting a witness in a drug case.

He was parked in a marked patrol car in front of the witness's home when two suspects approached him. One of the suspects knocked on the passenger window to distract him as the second suspect ran up to him beside the driver's window and opened fire, striking him in the head five times. Two additional suspects served as lookouts.

The four suspects, ages 20 to 25, were members of a drug ring who were instructed to kill a police officer by their leader who was in a New York prison for drug trafficking. The four were apprehended, convicted of murder, and sentenced to 25 years to life. One of the four was wanted for killing a woman in Greenwich, Connecticut, on November 18, 1988. And another was charged with killing a man in Queens the same day. Three of the four subjects were denied parole in November 2012. All four had parole hearings in November 2016.

The gang's leader was also convicted of Officer Byrne's murder and sentenced to life. As a result of his conviction, federal prosecutors were able to link him and his associates to the murder of Parole Officer Brian F. Rooney from October 1985.

Officer Byrne had served just seven months with the New York City Police Department. He is survived by his parents and three brothers. Officer Byrne's father was also a New York City Police Officer.

In February 2018, 91st Avenue in Jamaica, Queens was renamed Edward Byrne Avenue.