Holly MatkinTrujillo Alto, Puerto Rico – Trujillo Alto Municipal Police Department (TAMPD) Sergeant Pedro Torres-Santos was murdered in the line of duty on Monday night while working a second job as a security officer at a bakery.
Puerto Rico Police Colonel Roberto Rivera said 47-year-old Sgt. Torres-Santos was standing outside the El Punto bakery with two other TAMPD officers at approximately 10:30 p.m. on July 31 when a gunman in a passing vehicle opened fire on them, El Nuevo Dia reported.
“It was alleged that it was a robbery. We’re ruling out theft,” Col. Rivera said. “They stopped there and, from inside a vehicle, opened fire on them, killing Sergeant Pedro Torres.”
The suspect vehicle fled the scene and the gunman has not been located.
TAMPD Officer Jack Bruno Andujar, 49, and Sergeant Jorge Torres Rodriguez, 47, were also wounded in the attack, Primera Hora reported.
They were rushed to a local hospital in unknown condition, according to El Nuevo Dia.
Trujillo Alto Mayor Pedro Rodriguez-Gonzalez said he was shocked and saddened to learn of the deadly drive-by shooting.
“I know the three policemen, their trajectory,” Rodriguez-Gonzalez said, according to El Nuevo Dia. “In the case of Pedro, he was a neighbor of mine…I saw him every day, if it wasn’t during the day working or at the bakery when I went shopping, I would see him in the afternoon when I would pass by his house every day to get to my house and I would say hello.”
The mayor said the slain hero was a husband and father.
“It is a very dear and big family in Trujillo Alto,” Rodriguez-Gonzalez added.
He said Sgt. Torres-Santos’ wife works at the bakery where the shooting occurred, Primera Hora reported.
Sgt. Torres-Santos served the TAMPD for 27 years, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
The mayor said he was one of the first members to join the department when it was established, El Nuevo Dia reported.
Rest in peace Sgt Pedro Torres-Santos of Trujillo Alto Municipal PD, Puerto Rico, who was shot & killed on 7/31/23 in a targeted ambush while working a side job in uniform. He was a 27 year veteran & leaves behind a wife & children💙🖤
Please retweet to honor him #BlueLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/jw5RyhK1ce— Angel L Maysonet🇵🇷🇺🇸👮🏻♂️💙🖤 (@bigricanman) August 2, 2023
Our sympathies are with the Trujillo Alto Municipal Police Department and the family and friends of Sergeant Pedro Torres-Santos, who, along with two other police officers, was targeted in a drive-by shooting. He served in law enforcement for 27 years. #LODD #EOW @ATFMiami pic.twitter.com/8CpTdaBQDO
— ATF HQ (@ATFHQ) August 2, 2023
🔹 Blessed Are The Peacemakers 🔹
Sergeant Pedro Torres-Santos
Trujillo Alto Municipal Police Department, Puerto Rico
EOW: Monday, July 31, 2023#EnoughIsEnough #OfficerDown #EOW #ThinBlueLine pic.twitter.com/PA9gZHOwe6
— National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@GLFOP) August 2, 2023
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Trujillo Alto Municipal Police Department Sergeant Pedro Torres-Santos, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Sergeant Pedro Torres-Santos, your life mattered.
Sandy Malone
