Cortlandt Manor resident and NYPD Officer Alain Schaberger died early Sunday in the Boerum Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn after he was shoved over a railing by a violent suspect in a domestic dispute, police said.
The officer fell 9 feet down a cement stairwell after responding to a 911 call from a woman who had an order of protection against 42-year-old George Villanueva. She told police Villanueva was threatening to kill her.
Schaberger and three other officers were attempting to restrain Villanueva, who has been arrested 28 times before, including for domestic violence and as recently as Feb. 4 and 9, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly told reporters.
Villanueva has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated murder of a police officer and assault.
Schaberger is a 10-year veteran with the New York City Police Department and a Navy veteran.
He lived with Shoshone Peguese, his fiancee, who told the Daily News she raced to his hospital bed for a last goodbye.
State Sen. Greg Ball, who is sponsoring legislation that calls for the for those who kill police officers, released this statement:
“Our police officers are our nation’s front line of security, and early this morning an officer in his efforts to keep a woman safe made the ultimate sacrifice. This morning, I was notified of Officer Schaberger's death in the line of duty. My thoughts and prayers go out to him, his family, and the City of New York Police Department. This is a terrible tragedy and a sad day.”
Ball says the legislation is a response to what he sees as a growing trend of aggression toward law enforcement personnel.
The NYPD said funeral arrangements have not been finalized yet.
