Police Officer Gabriel Jesus Torres, Raleigh Police Department, North Carolina

Police Officer Gabriel Jesus Torres

Raleigh Police Department, North Carolina

End of Watch Thursday, October 13, 2022

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Gabriel Jesus Torres

Police Officer Gabe Torres was shot and killed while attempting to investigate a series of gunshots heard in the Hedingham neighborhood.

Shortly after 5:00 p.m., Officer Torres hung up the phone with his wife after telling her he was going to locate the area of gunfire that they both heard. He was in his car when a juvenile suspect ambushed him before he could exit his vehicle. Officer Torres was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.

The juvenile had gone on a shooting spree throughout his neighborhood, killing his brother and three other people. One person survived their wounds. When the shooter, age 15, was found two miles away, he engaged in a shootout with police, wounding an officer.

The juvenile was apprehended and has been charged as an adult for five accounts of murder and two for attempted murder. His father pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of failing to store a firearm in a manner to protect a juvenile and was sentenced to one year of unsupervised probation.

Officer Torres was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Raleigh Police Department for 1- 1/2 years. He is survived by his wife, daughter, mother, father, brother, and sister.

In 2024, the Gabe Torres Act was passed, which classifies law enforcement officers en route to work as on duty.

Bio

Age 29
Tour 1 year, 6 months
Badge 4743
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; 9 mm
Offender Charged as an adult

active shooter, juvenile offender, off duty, shooting

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Most Recent Reflection

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Earlier this week I attended the annual National Police Week in Washington D.C. I got to spend time with your family and our old squad mates. We talked for hours about the incredible times both good and bad we’ve all had. Grief can be full of emotions, when I first went to the LEO memorial wall and saw your name rightfully engraved on the stone among all the others it didn’t hit me. I was with all of the other RPD members and it just felt overwhelming to see the amount of people there. A few days later I returned at night to find only a few dozen people walking around the memorial grounds. I reproached your engraved name and all of the emotions came rushing as I stood in silence staring at the picture Layla had drawn for you. I thought of my own children in that moment and how incredibly blessed I am to have them. As I fought through tears, I felt the warmth of a strangers hand patting me on the back. The young man behind me began to cry too and said that Layla’s picture broke his heart. We embraced in a hug. Two complete strangers with one thing in common, broken hearted police officers. We introduced ourselves and thanked him for his compassion and for helping me to remember that the thin blue line runs across this country. I only caught his name as “Matt Rhodes” and will likely never see him again. I left the memorial incredibly thankful and believe that our God had sent a servant to comfort me in that moment. To the young officer (Matt Rhodes) thank you and I pray that God continue to bless you and bring honor to His name.

Officer Gabe Torres EOW: 10-13-2022

Senior Officer/FTO Z.R. Wagnon
Raleigh Police Department

May 18, 2025