Holly MatkinSan Juan, PR – Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) Sergeant Ricardo Perez-Ortiz was killed in the line of duty on Aug. 24, after being shot while he was on his way to work at department headquarters in late April.
Sgt. Perez Ortiz, 52, was driving his personal vehicle along Avenue Jesus T. Pinero near Highway 18 at approximately 11:50 p.m. on April 30 when he was suddenly surrounded by a gang of people riding off-road vehicles and motorcycles, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
The riders used their vehicles to force the uniformed sergeant to come to a stop, at which point at least one of the suspects opened fire on him with a .40-claiber handgun, police said.
Sgt. Perez-Ortiz was hit four times, suffering gunshot wounds to his intestines, kidney, and vertebra, El Vocero reported.
He was rushed to Rio Piedras Medical Center, where he remained in critical condition until he succumbed to his wounds on Aug. 24, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
The 26-year veteran-of-the-force was able to provide homicide investigators with information about his attackers in the wake of the shooting, police said.
The PRPD said it has identified a suspect, but that the shooter has not been apprehended, according to El Vocero.
Sgt. Perez-Ortiz was assigned to the PRPD’s Technical Services Division of the Criminal Investigation Corps at the time of his murder.
The veteran officer was promoted to the rank of sergeant posthumously, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
Sgt. Perez-Ortiz is survived by his brother.
Honoring Puerto Rico Police Department Sergeant Ricardo Perez-Ortiz, died August 24, 2020, from gunshot wounds sustained on April 30th, 2020, when he was confronted by armed subjects while en route to work at 11:50 pm. Honor him so he is not forgotten. pic.twitter.com/VD5pF80N5T
— Steve Wightman (@stevewightman1) September 1, 2020
Blessed Are The Peacemakers
Sergeant Ricardo Perez-Ortiz
Puerto Rico Police Department, Puerto Rico
EOW: Monday, August 24, 2020#EnoughIsEnough #OfficerDown #ThinBlueLine #EOW pic.twitter.com/AtpVLCq1AH
— National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@GLFOP) September 1, 2020
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Puerto Rico Police Department Sergeant Ricardo Perez-Ortiz, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Sergeant Ricardo Perez-Ortiz, your life mattered.
