Crime & Safety

NYPD Officer’s Mother Shot, Killed By Gunman Who Knocked On Door: Cops

Giuseppe Canzani, 41, fatally shot Anna Torres, 51, for as-yet-unknown reasons in a daylight shooting Wednesday in Queens, police said.

Deputy Chief Jerry O’Sullivan holds a Wednesday news conference on a fatal shooting in Queens.
Deputy Chief Jerry O’Sullivan holds a Wednesday news conference on a fatal shooting in Queens. (NYPD)

NEW YORK CITY — The mother of an NYPD officer died after a gunman knocked on her door in Queens and shot her, police said.

Anna Torres, 51, suffered two gunshots in the fatal shooting Wednesday at 2:26 p.m. at her 109th Avenue home in Ozone Park, authorities said.

The suspected shooter — Giuseppe Canzani, 41 — turned himself in to police an hour later by laying a .45-caliber on the ground outside the 106th Precinct, said NYPD Deputy Chief Jerry O’Sullivan.

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Canzani will face charges of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a firearm, O’Sullivan said.

“The motive of this incident is still being investigated,” he said.

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Torres’ son is an NYPD officer, O’Sullivan confirmed during Wednesday evening news conference. He said the motive behind the shooting is still under investigation, but it doesn’t appear tied to Torres’ son being a cop.

“We have no reason to believe whatsoever that this incident occurred as a result of his employment with the police department,” he said.

Video footage showed the shooter walk up to Torres’ door Wednesday afternoon, O’Sullivan said. He knocked on her door, authorities said.

When Torres answered, the shooter opened fire, O’Sullivan said.

“We believe three rounds were fired at the victim, striking her two times,” he said.

Medics pronounced Torres dead at her home, where two of her family members were present during the shooting, O’Sullivan said.

The shooter drove off and a brief manhunt ended when Canzani parked a car outside the 106th Precinct, walked out and placed a gun on the sidewalk, O’Sullivan said. Officers handcuffed and arrested Canzani, who briefly talked to police before a lawyer arrived, he said.

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