Widow of Raleigh officer killed in Hedingham shooting to receive workers compensation

The widow of Raleigh police officer Gabriel Torres, who was killed in the 2022 Hedingham mass shooting, has been awarded workers’ compensation benefits, the North Carolina Industrial Commission ruled on Tuesday.

Torres, an officer with the Raleigh Police Department, was fatally shot in his neighborhood on Oct. 13, 2022, during an attack that claimed the lives of five people.

Initially, his widow, Jasmin Torres, was denied benefits because her husband was off duty at the time of his death. Under North Carolina law, workers’ compensation benefits are only granted if an employee’s death is directly related to their job.

However, Industrial Deputy Commissioner Matthew Buckner ruled that Torres was actively responding to the situation when he was killed, meaning he was performing his duties as an officer. In his decision, Buckner emphasized that Raleigh police officers are trained to respond to active shooter situations and are expected to engage with armed individuals during emergencies.

As part of the ruling, Jasmin Torres will receive weekly compensation of $321, retroactive to the date of her husband’s death, Oct. 13, 2022. These payments will continue for 500 weeks. Additionally, their four-year-old daughter will receive weekly compensation of $321 until she turns 18.