Bronx, NY — On Saturday, May 21, 2022, at approximately 8:03 PM, in front of 1420 Noble Avenue, Bronx, Police Officer Handriel Torres, assigned to the 43rd Precinct, discharged four shots from his service firearm during a confrontation with an armed subject, later identified as George Rivera, a 60-year-old male. During the confrontation, Rivera was armed with a loaded Taurus TCP .380 Caliber firearm which he previously fired at a civilian. The firearm was recovered at the scene of the incident during the investigation.
On Saturday, May 21, 2022, at approximately 7:40 PM, in front of 1413 Noble Avenue, Bronx, Rivera was involved in a verbal dispute with a male civilian, which later escalated into a physical fight between the two men. Following the fight, Rivera returned to is residence located on the same street. The male civilian remained at the location, standing in the vicinity of a vehicle parked on the west side of Noble Avenue, with two other females. At approximately 7:59 PM, Rivera returned to the location now wearing a black ski-mask and armed with a firearm. He entered the street from the east side of Noble Avenue, raised his firearm, and fired in the direction of the male civilian and the two females. The gunshot struck the parked vehicle only. The male civilian fled the location on foot, while Rivera crossed Noble Avenue and began to brandish the firearm at one of the females.
Ballistic evidence recovered at the scene revealed that Rivera fired at least one shot from his firearm. Following Rivera brandishing the firearm, he walked northbound on Noble Avenue, leaving the location. A short time later he returned to the location, walking southbound on the east sidewalk of Noble Avenue. As these events unfolded, an eyewitness called 9-1-1 and reported shots being fired at the location, providing a description of a Hispanic male. As a result of the call to 9-1-1, Police Officer Handriel Torres and Police Officer Alfred Rugel, assigned to patrol in the 43rd Precinct and attired in uniform, responded to the vicinity of Noble Avenue and East 174th Street. The officers exited their vehicle at that location and began to walk north on Noble Avenue.
Police Officer Torres walked north on the east sidewalk of Noble Avenue, while Police Officer Rugel walked in the same direction in the street. The officers encountered Rivera, who was still wearing the ski-mask and holding the firearm in his hand, in front of 1420 Noble Avenue. Police Officer Torres ordered him to put down his firearm, however, Rivera turned toward the officer and pointed it in his direction. As a result, Police Officer Torres discharged four shots from his service firearm. Rivera was not struck by Police Officer Torres’ shots. Rivera then dropped his firearm and surrendered to the officers, and was taken-into custody without further incident. Rivera was subsequently arrested and charged with Attempted Murder 2nd, Criminal Possession of a Loaded Firearm, and other related charges.
