Florida State Bail Bondsman, husband and father of three Jerry Anthony Dongo, 32, was slain in Miami Monday night as he and 4 other Bondsmen were arresting a convicted felon*, Christopher Walls, after approaching his vehicle. Jerry Dongo was not wearing his bullet proof vest at the time of the shooting. Walls was taken into custody by Miami Dade police and a Miami Court has ordered him held without bail.



The four other bondsmen, Dongo's colleagues, part of the fugitive arrest team dispatched to apprehend Christopher Walls witnessed this fatal shooting in horror. When Dongo reached to apprehend Walls from his car Wall allegedly fired what is believed to be a single .45 caliber shot from a Ruger semi-automatic pistol point black into Dongo's chest. Dango was not wearing his bulletproof vest and was not armed with a handgun at the time. It is believed the bullet entered Dongo's chest piercing his lung and heart and lodged in his kidney. Dongo was transported by Miami-Dade County Paramedics to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami and pronounced dead shortly thereafter.



"The slaying of Jerry Dongo, 32, a father of three, reminds each of us of our own mortality," stated Joe Mastrapa General Agent of BAIL YES Bonding Agency of Miami Florida. "Bondsmen in Florida and across the United States mourn the loss of our fallen comrade Jerry Dongo. We ask that each bondsman who initiates apprehensions no matter what State he/she is in to please wear a bullet-proof vest and continue to exercise extreme caution while dealing with and apprehending felons no matter how minor the offense."



The four bondsmen on the scene had weapons drawn, but did not fire upon the suspect even after Dongo was shot, knowing full well that a child and a young woman were in the front seat of the vehicle next to the felon. Eyewitness accounts report that the suspect shooter Walls grabbed the child afterward utilized the child as a shield to ward off any potential return gunfire from the bondsmen or any other police that might respond.



"This horrible and senseless killing could have occurred to a police officer or federal marshal while taking in to custody a wanted felon anywhere in the United States," stated George Zouvelos, President of the NYPBA, New York State Professional Bondsmen & Agents. "This is why we call them professional bondsmen as the bondsmen on the scene with Dongo exercised amazing restraint under the most adverse conditions and remained professional knowing full well that the suspect quite possibly had just killed their colleague right in front of them. Professional bondsmen such as these perform these duties everyday as we do here in New York State and elsewhere in the United States. In this tragic event it was a bondsman who was killed, one of thousands of bondsmen who operate across the United States on a daily basis. Bondsmen act as each states private police force serving the public at no cost to the taxpayer and very little is known about us other than the negative images that are seen on televisions or in movies. Our work is extremely dangerous and we should own and wear the best possible body armor we can find. I welcome discussions with the various manufacturers of body armor to discuss the commercial bail industries options for acquiring body armor for our bondsmen," added Zouvelos.



When bondsmen attempted to apprehend Walls he was wanted on a felony warrant for grand theft (Case number: F07017088; Miami, Fla). The bondsmen were aware that the fugitive and convicted felon was possibly armed with at least one handgun and was considered to be extremely dangerous.



"We in the Florida bail industry and the commercial bail industry across the United States willingly face the dangers that our chosen profession has to offer," stated Samuel Jochananov, Florida State bondsmen & fugitive apprehension officer. "As it is unacceptable to the public when a police officer is injured or killed in the performance of his/her duties, it is also the same for us when someone harms or in this case kills a bondsman while performing the same duties as my friend Jerry Dongo. Now, we hear that the suspect Walls has confessed post Miranda on videotape and in writing. We all await the formal charges to this heinous crime by the Miami-Dade County State Attorney's office. We pray his memory and this senseless crime will not be in vain as the public, the judiciary and state lawmakers are aware of the value and benefits our industry bestows upon society and in each state."



Hundred's of mourners packed the funeral home to pay their last respects to Dongo. Among them were many bail bondsmen, residents and polices officers from surrounding counties. Funeral for Jerry Anthony Dongo will be held on July 12th at 1PM in Miami Florida SW34th Avenue and 8th Street. He is survived by his wife and 3 children.



Presently a trust fund for the three children of Jerry Dongo is in formation.



* Case Numbers:

Grand Theft/Burglary -- F07017088; Miami, Fla.

Possesion of a Loaded Weapon by a Felon -- F07023409; Miami, Fla.



For more information, please visit http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/167886.html



For more Information contact:



In New York

George Zouvelos

President, NYPBA, New York State Professional Bondsmen & Agents

& Spartan Bail Bonds of NY.

212 608-6200

affordablebailny @ aol.com

www.NYPBA.net

www.SpartanBailBonds.com



In Florida

Joe Mastrapa

General Agent, Bail Yes Bonding

www.BailYES.com

800 224-5937



May he rest in eternal peace, Amen.