Irving Gonzalez
Agency patch
Correctional Officer

Irving Gonzalez

Felonious
End of Watch May 3, 1975
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
The Vigil Panel 115 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Correctional Officer Irving Gonzalez was shot to death after being attacked by a prisoner during a transport from the Rio Piedras State Prison to the Bayamon District Courthouse for the prisoner's murder trial.

The transport vehicle was being driven by a prison trustee and Officer Gonzalez was riding in the front passenger seat. The prisoner, who was handcuffed in the front and sitting behind Officer Gonzalez, pulled a shank out of his afro-style hair and stabbed Officer Gonzalez in the eye. He was then able to disarm Officer Gonzalez and he ordered the trustee out of the vehicle before driving it away.

Officer Gonzalez's body was located in the vehicle a short distance away suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

The prisoner was arrested several days later and returned to prison. On January 5th, 1979, he and two other inmates at the Bayamon Correctional Complex murdered Correctional Officer Anibal Ramos-Feliciano and Correctional Officer Angel Morales during an escape attempt. The other two inmates were eventually recaptured but Officer Gonzalez'z murderer still remains at large.

Officer Gonzalez had served with the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for 11 years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-PR-C4C5E67A
Stewardship
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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.
Correctional Officer Gonzalez gave the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Puerto Rico. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Correctional Officer Gonzalez.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Corrections
Location San Juan, 127
Platform Identity prdcrcorr.pr.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 3, 1975
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Correctional Officer Irving Gonzalez 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 127, 294 of 388 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75.8% of this state's fallen. That is 75.8 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 9 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 81.8% of this agency's fallen.

Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
9
of 11 officers
81.8% Felonious
127 — Statewide
294
of 388 officers
75.8% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Irving Gonzalez's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Irving Gonzalez Compares

Years of Service
11
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Irving Gonzalez is highlighted in May.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Irving Gonzalez was killed by officer's handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location