The man found guilty last month of first-degree murder in the killing of a Bronx EMT in 2017 was sentenced to life in prison without parole Wednesday.
Jose Gonzalez was convicted of killing 14-year FDNY veteran Yadira Arroyo when he hijacked her ambulance as she was working on March 16, 2017. Police said Arroyo and her partner had noticed Gonzalez riding on the back of their ambulance.
When they got out to investigate, Gonzalez jumped into the driver's seat, put the vehicle in reverse and ran Arroyo over. He then allegedly went forward, dragging the the 44-year-old into an intersection at White Plains Road and Watson Avenue.
The mother of five, who worked as an EMT for 14 years at EMS station No. 26 in the Bronx, was pronounced dead shortly after. Arroyo, known affectionately as Yadi, was a single mother when she decided to become an EMT at the encouragement of her own mother, according to her brother Joel Rosado, also an EMT.
A passing MTA police officer witnessed the crash and immediately pulled over and subdued the suspect with the help of bystanders, authorities said.
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Gonzalez had 31 prior arrests and four prior misdemeanors on his record, authorities said. He faced a slew of charges including first-degree murder, manslaughter and robbery.
The trial had been delayed multiple times after Gonzalez's attorney said in the past that his client was severely mentally ill. In September, Gonzalez was deemed fit to stand trial by medical professionals. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said at the time that Gonzalez was evaluated at Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center, and it was determined that he was no longer considered "an incapacitated person."
"I promised this family, FDNY and this city that the Bronx district attorney's office would get justice for the idea I brought you today. That mission was accomplished," said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. "Today's sentence brings some closure after waiting six long years, the trial was delayed time and time again because of feelings regarding the defendant's mental fitness to stand trial. But in the end, justice prevailed."
"We are going to pick up the pieces of our broken hearts," said Arroyo’s aunt, Ali Acevedo-Hernandez, after the sentencing. "How are we going to start celebrating her life, her memory, her legacy?"
Monique Williams, Arroyo's EMT partner, still overcome with grief, had the prosecutor read a statement on her behalf, telling Gonzalez "we asked you over and over to get out," and added " There are so many things I wish I would have done different that day. I carry the weight of this on my shoulders every single day."
Defense attorneys for Gonzalez didn't deny that their client killed Arroyo, but said he shouldn't have been convicted of murder because he was under the influence of PCP at the time.
Jurors found him guilty in March after deliberated for six hours following weeks of evidence presented and testimony from witnesses in court.
Gonzalez addressed the court on Wednesday, saying "I apologize to the victims family for the tragic accident that happened. I apologize to the victim's family, I am very sorry for the loss."
Following the sentencing, Arroyo’s family was presented with the handcuffs Gonzalez wore in court, unmoved by his apology.
"I feel like they were just empty words," said Vanessa Hernandez, Arroyo's cousin. "I hope that, you know, while he's in prison, he can find himself and find a higher power and he can really mean the words that he said today from his heart and not only speak them from his mouth...We're glad that he is not going to see the light of day."
FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said in a tweet after the sentencing that "We are grateful her killer will never be on the streets again, with no eligibility for parole. We join her family in continued mourning of her loss."
