Four years haven’t healed the wounds for those who are still mourning the death of FDNY EMT Yadira Arroyo.

Her aunt read a statement on behalf of the Arroyo family at a vigil on Tuesday night.

It was held at the same Bronx intersection where the mother of five was killed while responding to a call.


What You Need To Know

  • A 14-year veteran of the FDNY, EMT Yadira Arroyo was killed four years ago while responding to a call after a man stole her ambulance

  • Jose Gonzalez was arraigned the day after Arroyo was killed and has been charged with her murder but has yet to stand trial

  • Arroyo, a mother of five, is now memorialized at the intersection where she died on a plaque affixed to an FDNY call box

Arroyo’s aunt said some family members just can’t bring themselves to come back to where the 14-year FDNY veteran was run over.

Even though she spoke on behalf of the family, she said that she still finds it hard to put her feelings into words.

“The pain doesn’t go away. Every day I get up, she’s the first thing that I think of and the last thing that I think of,” said Ali Hernandez, Arroyo’s aunt.

Hernandez spoke with NY1 while arm and arm with Arroyo’s former partner Monique Williams.

Williams was too grief-stricken to speak.

She retired from the FDNY after the incident, too traumatized by what happened to return.

She and more than 100 other members of the FDNY and NYPD paid tribute the 44-year-old who is now memorialized on an ambulance and on a plaque affixed to an FDNY call box at the scene.

“Yadi’s my friend,” said FDNY Paramedic Alex Tull. “Yadi was an FDNY EMT, but more than that she was someone’s mother, she was someone’s cousin and someone’s niece. She was a lot more. She was a strong Hispanic, Boricua woman and she was proud of it.”

Among the tributes at the memorial event was a moment of silence which marked the exact moment Arroyo died.

Trying to do that on a New York City street corner during rush hour was a big ask but organizers and attendees made it happen.

One reason that those close to Arroyo said that it’s been so hard to move on over the years is that the man charged with her murder has yet to be brought to trial.

While Jose Gonzalez was arraigned the day after the incident, the wheels of justice have moved slowly in the case against him.

In 2019, two doctors deemed Gonzalez fit to stand trial after a court appointed psychologist and psychiatrist initially found him unfit to stand trial.

More recently there have been delays due to the coronavirus that have complicated the court process.

“Many of us are there every time there is a court appearance, our unions are fighting and holding everyone to fire,” said Lt. Miguel Flores, EMS Liaison FDNY Hispanic Society. “Justice needs to be served and it’s not easy.”

Gonzalez’s next court date is expected to be March 23.