Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Anthony Sanchez was shot and killed after responding to a home invasion robbery in luxury apartment building on West 17th Street in Manhattan. Just after midnight, the son of a garment district executive put into motion a plan he had conceived to rob his millionaire father of cash. Several months earlier the father had fired his son and cut off all contact with after he discovered the son was embezzling money from their company. Wearing a ski mask, the suspect arrived at the location and entered using an old key he had. He took the private elevator up to his fathers apartment and entered. As he walked around, his father woke, called 911 and confronted his son. The son tied the father up, stole $5,000 in cash and fled the apartment as the police arrived. Several officers responded to the call. Some of the officers responded directly to the apartment, some took positions at the fire escape, and Officer Sanchez took position in the lobby, near the stairway. The officers covering the fire escaped observed the suspect attempting to flee through a window. The suspect went back into the building upon seeing the officers. To cut off the suspects escape, Officer Sanchez entered the stairway. Alone, he confronted the suspect between the 9th and 10th floors of the building. The two exchanged gunfire, and Officer Sanchez was struck in the back of the neck. The suspect was also struck, receiving non-fatal wounds. Wounded, Officer Sanchez attempted to descend the staircase, but collapsed on the 3rd floor landing. The suspect fled. He was apprehended hiding in the basement of the building. Officer Sanchez was taken to St. Vincent's Medical Center, where he died from his wounds. On January 15, 1998, the suspect was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the murder of Officer Sanchez. The suspect died in prison in 2002. Officer Sanchez was assigned to the 13th Precinct.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and 7-year-old son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-A12F7478- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Sanchez gave the New York City Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Sanchez.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Anthony W. Sanchez is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At New York City Police Department, 365 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 29.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Anthony W. Sanchez's cause is highlighted.
How Anthony W. Sanchez Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Anthony W. Sanchez is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Anthony W. Sanchez was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1,236 officers from New York City Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
