Officer Thomas J. Giunta was fatally shot in the line of duty on August 24, 1994 while distributing parking passes on Middle Street. Fall River’s annual Holy Ghost Feast attracts thousands of people from across the country. In an effort to ease parking congestion, Officer Giunta was issuing parking passes for neighborhood residents.

 

Officer Giunta was killed when he attempted to issue a parking pass to a man who became unexpectedly aggressively with him. The man shot and killed Officer Giunta during a struggle. Officer Giunta was 49 years old when he died. He was appointed on October 23, 1973. He was survived by his wife and three children. Officer Giunta’s son, Timothy Giunta, is a Fall River Police Officer assigned to the Uniform Division.