On the evening of October 18, 1988, 24-year-old NYPD Police Officer Michael J. Buczek was shot and killed in Washington Heights while pursuing suspects suspected of a drug transaction after responding to a separate medical call at 580 West 161st Street. Officer Buczek and his partner, Joseph Barbato, chased several men who fled; one of the suspects turned and fired, striking Buczek in the chest. He was taken to Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital and died there. Less than three hours earlier that same night another NYPD officer, Christopher Hoban, was killed in an unrelated incident.

Three suspects fled to the Dominican Republic. Daniel Mirambeaux, identified as the shooter, died in Dominican custody while awaiting extradition. Years later two others were captured abroad: Pablo Almonte was seized by U.S. Marshals in 2000 and Jose Fernandez was apprehended in the Dominican Republic in May 2002. Were any readers in Washington Heights that night who recall seeing police activity near West 161st Street?