Prev Next
Daniel Enchautegui
Agency patch
Detective

Daniel Enchautegui

New York City Police Department — New York, NY
Felonious
United States flag New York flag
End of Watch December 10, 2005
Age 28
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Badge 5562
The Vigil Panel 153 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 1,221

Incident

Daniel Enchautegui was a native of the Bronx who worked as a security guard to put himself through John Jay College of Criminal Justice before joining the New York City Police Department. In three years on the force he served in the 52 Precinct and then the 40 Precinct, where he worked the 4:00 p.m. to midnight tour. Colleagues described him as cheerful, respectful and calm, an officer who did things by the book.

In the early hours of 10 December 2005, Officer Enchautegui was at home in the duplex he rented in the Pelham Bay section of the Bronx when he heard suspicious noises and breaking glass outside. He called his landlord, then called 911, identified himself as a police officer and said he would meet the responding officers outside. Carrying his gun and phone and wearing his shield, he saw two men breaking into a neighbor's vacant house. He identified himself in English and Spanish, but one of the men fired, hitting him in the chest near the heart. Officer Enchautegui fired several shots, hitting the gunman four times and his accomplice twice. Officers from the 45 Precinct who heard the gunfire caught the wounded men as they tried to flee and found Officer Enchautegui lying on the pavement a block away. Officers performed CPR, and he was taken to Jacobi Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 6:09 a.m.

He was 28 years old. He was survived by his parents and his sister. He was posthumously promoted to detective first grade on 10 December 2005 and was buried in St. Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx. In 2006 he was awarded the Medal of Honor, and on 29 August 2006 the corner of Westchester Avenue and Arnow Place in the Bronx was renamed Detective Daniel Enchautegui Way. On 13 November 2008, the gunman, Steven Armento, 51, was found guilty of first-degree murder.

Survivors

He is survived by his parents and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtp9xsfhsygvy4155q9kw
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Daniel. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Enchautegui gave the New York City Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Enchautegui.

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

Agency

Department New York City Police Department
Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 10, 2005
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 28
Badge Number 5562
Gender Male
Assignment 40 Precinct

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun; .357 caliber

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Daniel is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
  4. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 2005, 73 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 96th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Daniel was 28. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Daniel had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.3%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun; .357 caliber, in 0.1% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New York City Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Daniel among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Daniel Enchautegui

New York City Police Department · End of Watch December 10, 2005

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 22-W

↑