Bronx man sentenced to 24 years behind bars for killing cop ex-wife

A Bronx man was sentenced to 24 years in prison for the senseless stabbing of his estranged NYPD officer wife in 2022. Argenis Baez, 37, brutally killed Officer Arianna Reyes-Gomez in her Bronx apartment during a domestic dispute, claiming in court that her police partner was the one who told him to commit the crime.

The courtroom was filled with devastated family members and uniformed officers wearing purple in support of domestic violence awareness. Reyes-Gomez’s family members addressed Baez directly during the emotional victim impact statements, expressing their lack of forgiveness towards him for his actions.

While Baez received a lengthy prison sentence, some believe that it is not enough punishment for the heinous crime he committed. A fellow officer who knew Reyes-Gomez stated that Baez should never see the light of day again, emphasizing that she was a good cop, a great person, and a loving mother with much to live for.

During sentencing, Baez begged for forgiveness from Reyes-Gomez’s family, attributing his actions to a difficult time he was going through. Despite his plea, he was sentenced to 24 years in prison and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter.

Reyes-Gomez, described as an “angel on this Earth,” had joined the NYPD in 2019 and shared a young son with her killer. Her final words during the altercation were a plea to spare her life for the sake of their child, who was not present at the time of the murder.

Prosecutors revealed that Baez forcibly entered Reyes-Gomez’s apartment, leading to a confrontation and ultimately stabbing her eight times. The off-duty cop managed to call a relative for help before succumbing to her injuries. Baez later confessed to a family member, leading to his arrest and the recovery of incriminating evidence from his apartment.

The tragic loss of Officer Arianna Reyes-Gomez serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of domestic violence. Her family has turned their pain into a purpose by advocating against such violence, hoping to prevent similar tragedies in the future.