The DEA Honor Roll
Official Line of Duty Deaths
Sean G. Carrington
Rank: Detective
Shield Number: 883
Command: Bronx Narcotics
Date of Death: 01/19/1998
Cause of Death: Shot during a Buy & Bust Narcotics Operation
On Monday January 19, 1998, Det. Sean Carrington was shot and killed during a buy and bust operation in the Bronx. After a successful narcotics purchase had been made at an indoor location, Detective Carrington and another Officer engaged two suspects in conversation. The two suspects opened fire with semi-automatic weapons, killing Detective Carrington and wounding another Officer.
Detective Carrington was killed by career criminal Leon Smith. Smith was out on parole after serving only eight years on a manslaughter charge. Carrington, who was not wearing a vest because he was undercover, was shot through the heart and died 30 minutes after the shooting. Det. Carrington had received his gold shield just 17 months after becoming an Officer. He left a fiancé and a newborn daughter. He was 28 years old.
During the 1999 Medal Day Ceremonies held at One Police Plaza, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Police Commissioner Howard Safir awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously to Detective Carrington.