Gerard Louis Carter
Agency patch
Police Officer

Gerard Louis Carter

Felonious
End of Watch July 31, 1998
Age 28
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
The Vigil Panel 145 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Gerard Carter succumbed to gunshot wounds he received while searching for a juvenile for whom he had a warrant on July 26, 1998.

Officer Carter and his partner were sitting in a marked police van outside of a New York City Housing Authority building when the suspect approached them and shot Officer Carter in the temple. Officer Carter's partner returned fire but did not hit the suspect.

Officer Carter died on July 31, 1998, after being in a medically induced coma following the shooting.

The 18-year-old suspect, on parole after serving two years for killing a homeless man when he was 15 years old, was caught the next day after a standoff. He was sentenced to 25 years to life following a plea agreement. He was denied parole in 2023 and died in custody in 2026.

The Gerard Carter Community Center, located at 230 Broad St. in Stapleton, opened in 2011. There is also a street named after him.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-E4671F2B
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
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 Carter gave the New York City Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Carter.

— 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 July 31, 1998
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 28
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun; .45 caliber
Offender parolee

Police Officer Gerard Louis Carter 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. Gerard Louis Carter'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 Gerard Louis Carter Compares

Age at End of Watch
28
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

parolee

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gerard Louis Carter is highlighted in Jul.

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. Gerard Louis Carter was killed by handgun; .45 caliber.

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

Incident Location