Wife of Raleigh police officer killed in Hedingham shooting granted workers' comp benefits

WRAL - Jasmin Torres, the widow of a Raleigh police officer killed in the Hedingham mass shooting, is entitled to receive worker's compensation, a ruling shows.

Officer Gabriel Torres, 29, who lived in the Hedingham neighborhood, was on his way to work in his personal vehicle when he was shot on Oct. 13, 2022. He was one of five people who died when a 15-year-old gunman opened fire.

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"It's absolutely ridiculous this was denied and had to wait two years," said Rick Armstrong with the Raleigh Police Protective Association.

The officer left behind his wife, Jasmin Torres, and a young daughter. 

At that time, it was not made clear if Gabriel Torres' death was covered under North Carolina's death benefit law because he on his way to work but not yet on duty. Jasmin Torres argued that her husband was working at the time of the shooting, and the family should receive appropriate compensation.

"When an officer is performing their job while going to work or anytime, even if they're not actually in uniform or on the clock, if they're performing their job as a law enforcement officer, they should be entitled to worker's compensation," Armstrong said.

A document dated Feb. 3 from the North Carolina Industrial Commission, which handles worker's compensation, indicates a ruling that Jasmin Torres should be paid $321.48 for 500 weeks, until the couple's daughter turns 18, effective Oct. 13, 2022.

According to the ruling, Jasmin Torres won her case because of a phone call she had with her husband minutes before the shooting. In the call, Gabriel Torres told his wife he had just left for work and was going to check out shots fired.

Three shots were fired into Gabriel Torres' vehicle, documents show. The officer was transported to a hospital and died from his injuries. 

Jasmin Torres spoke in October 2022 at her husband's funeral, recounting the final moments she had with him. In the eulogy, she shared a frightening account of hearing the gunshots and rushing home to find her husband mortally injured.

Austin Thompson, the accused shooter who is in custody in a juvenile facility an hour from Raleigh, has a tentative trial date set for Sept. 22, 2025. However, representing Thompson are asking to delay his trial to 2026, citing a brain injury and the large amount of evidence connected to the case.  

State lawmakers have since introduced House Bill 363, known as the Gabe Torres Act, which aimed to expand death benefits for public safety works killed while en route to, engaged in or returning from duty or training.

Armstrong hopes the law will prevent similar situations from happening to the future law enforcement officers' families.

"[Gabe's] family had to wait two years for this workers' compensation victory," he said. "It's very disappointing."