He Killed an NYPD Officer Over Sunglasses — Now He's Out of Prison

The man convicted of murdering NYPD Officer Juan Andino in 1984 has been released from prison after serving 40 years, sparking outrage from the late officer's family and law enforcement officials. Lee Walker, now 67, was granted parole and walked free from Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York, on Jan. 21.

A Fatal Confrontation Over Stolen Sunglasses

On June 15, 1984, Officer Andino, 39, was investigating the theft of a pair of $140 Cazal sunglasses from a store in the Bronx when he was shot and killed. The eyewear, made popular by hip-hop artists like Run-DMC and the Fat Boys, had been stolen by Walker moments before the deadly encounter.

According to trial testimony, Andino confronted Walker inside the store after the shop owner reported the theft. A struggle ensued, during which Walker managed to grab Andino's gun from its holster. The officer briefly regained control, knocking the weapon away, but Walker overpowered him, pushed him to the ground, and shot him twice in the face and head.

Another officer, Sharon Fields, arrived at the scene and shot Walker twice before taking him into custody. Andino was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he later died. Then-Mayor Ed Koch and Police Commissioner Benjamin Ward joined Andino's grieving family at the hospital that day.

Family Outraged Over Parole Decision

Andino's family is devastated by Walker's release, saying it reopens wounds that never fully healed.

"It just hits you in the gut," Felix Andino, the officer's brother, told The New York Post. "I believe in capital punishment ... and if you take a life, your life should end."

Another brother, Angel Vasquez, recalled the painful moment he was told his brother had been shot. When Vasquez arrived at the hospital, he found his mother in tears. "She just started crying and crying and crying and did not stop," he recalled to the New York Post. "I mean, she cried for 40 years."

Parole Board Under Fire

Walker's release has reignited criticism of New York's parole board, which has granted parole to 43 convicted cop killers since 2017. Law enforcement groups, including the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), are demanding changes to the system, arguing that the board now prioritizes an inmate's age and behavior in prison over the severity of their crime.

PBA President Patrick Hendry accused the board of being stacked with "pro-criminal activists" and called for the removal of members who show "blatant bias" against police officers, the New York Post reports. The PBA has subpoenaed voting records to identify which board members are responsible for releasing convicted cop killers.

A Controversial Trend in Parole Decisions

New York's parole board sees between 10,000 and 12,000 cases each year. Recent data shows that 38.5% of parole requests were granted in 2023, up from 33.3% in 2022. The board has shifted its criteria in recent years, focusing more on rehabilitation and an inmate's behavior behind bars rather than the brutality of their crime.

For Andino's family, however, no amount of time served can erase the pain of losing their loved one. Walker's release marks yet another controversial parole decision that has left a grieving family searching for justice decades later.

References: Taking Sunglasses from Store Released After Serving 40 Years in Prison | Killer who executed cop over pair of trendy sunglasses released from prison, sparking outrage