Investigator Wallie Howard Jr.

Syracuse Police Department

Date of Death: October 30, 1990

On October 30, 1990, Syracuse Police Investigator Wallie Howard Jr. was assigned to the Central New York Drug Enforcement Task Force. Working undercover, he was set to purchase two kilos of cocaine from three men, after which he and his backup team would immediately arrest them. The suspects—Robert “Bam Bam” Lawrence, Juan Morales, and Gary Stuart—had no intention of selling cocaine. Instead, they planned to rob Investigator Howard of the buy money he carried. As Howard waited in his car on South Salina Street, Lawrence and Stuart approached from behind. With guns drawn, they demanded the money. Howard drew his weapon to defend himself, but Lawrence fired, striking and mortally wounding him. Despite his injury, Howard managed to shoot and wound Stuart before backup officers converged and apprehended the suspects. Investigator Wallie Howard Jr. was rushed to Upstate Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 8:15 P.M.