A man who was found guilty of killing a police officer over a pair of stolen sunglasses in 1985 has been granted parole. This news has left the family of the fallen officer feeling shocked and upset.
Lee Walker, now 67 years old, was released on parole from the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in New York on January 21, after spending 40 years behind bars for first-degree murder. Walker was convicted of shooting New York Police Department Officer Juan Andino during an encounter related to the theft of sunglasses in the Bronx on June 15, 1984.
In July 1985, Walker received a life sentence after a jury found him guilty of the crime. At that time, it was reported that Walker had stolen a pair of sunglasses from a shop, which led the store owner to call the police. When Officer Andino arrived to investigate, Walker shot him.
After the incident, Officer Andino was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was surrounded by family members and notable figures including former Mayor Ed Koch.
Felix Andino, the brother of the deceased officer, expressed his pain about Walker’s release, stating that it felt like a punch in the gut. His other brother, Angel Andino, also shared how hard it was for their family during that difficult time.
In New York, around 10,000 to 12,000 people go before the parole board each year. Statistics from the Vera Institute of Justice show that in 2023, there were 2,528 releases, a significant increase from 2022.
