Anthony W. Sanchez
Agency patch
Police Officer

Anthony W. Sanchez

Felonious
End of Watch May 19, 1997
Age 31
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Badge 2107
The Vigil Panel 143 ›
Gender Male

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
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Added to badge.nw
April 2, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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

Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 19, 1997
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 31
Badge Number 2107
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun
Offender Died in prison

Police Officer Anthony W. Sanchez is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At New York City Police Department, 382 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.9% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Police Department
382
of 1,237 officers
30.9% Felonious
NY — Statewide
754
of 2,147 officers
35.1% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Anthony W. Sanchez's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Anthony W. Sanchez Compares

Age at End of Watch
31
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
10
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Died in prison

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Anthony W. Sanchez is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Anthony W. Sanchez was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location