Coney Island Fire Kills NYPD Officer Guerra
NYPD Housing Officer Dennis Guerra died, as a result of Sunday's Coney Island apartment building fire.
The fire was started by 16-year-old Marcell Dockery, after he intentionally lit a mattress at a residential Surf Avenue high-rise complex. Thirteen others have also been injured.
The 38-year-old married officer and father of four, passed away just before 7:00 a.m. today at Montefiore Hospital. Dockery told police he lit the flames due to boredom. Numerous NYPD officers arrived at the hospital to pay their respects to the fallen officer, who was in a medically induced coma.
Mayor Bill de Blasio commented, "We've lost a good man this morning — a very brave police officer, Dennis Guerra, who did something that most of us wouldn't understand how to do...He went selflessly towards the flame, selflessly towards those who are in danger, no matter what the risk to him". New York City's Mayor has commanded flags lowered to half-staff, around the city.
