New Year’s Eve is typically a time of joy, celebration, and resolutions. However, for some, it has marked the stage for tragedy and crime.
From shocking murders to heartbreaking injustices, the following cases highlight the darker side of this festive night.
The Politician Who Photographed His Assassin
In 2010, Filipino councilor Reynaldo Dagsa was taking a family photo on New Year’s Eve in Caloocan, a suburb of Manila.
As he snapped the picture, an assassin fired a fatal shot. The resulting photo showed the gunman, Michael Gonzales, holding a .45-caliber pistol in the background.
Gonzales, a car thief whom Dagsa had helped prosecute, was arrested within 48 hours, along with two accomplices. The image served as both evidence and a chilling reminder of vengeance.
A Soldier Betrayed
In 2019, Tyrone Hassel, a U.S. Army sergeant, was gunned down just before midnight.
His wife, Kemia Hassel, masterminded the plot with her lover, Jeremy Cuellar, to claim $400,000 in life insurance.
Evidence, including ballistic matches and polygraph results, led to Kemia’s conviction for first-degree murder and Cuellar’s plea to second-degree murder. Both received lengthy prison sentences.
A Family’s New Year Massacre
On December 31, 2017, 16-year-old Scott Kologi used a semi-automatic rifle to kill his parents, sister, and a family friend in New Jersey.
While his defense cited mental illness, the prosecution demonstrated premeditation, including internet searches and the use of earplugs during the shooting.
Kologi was sentenced to 150 years in prison in 2022, reigniting debates over gun control and mental health.
The Accidental Confession
In Madrid, Adrián died after being assaulted by a group of youths on New Year’s Day 2015.
A year later, one of the attackers, Pablo, realized he was the killer after reading a news article. Wracked with guilt, he confessed to police, but justice remains delayed as the trial is still pending.
The Tragedy at Fruitvale Station
On New Year’s Eve 2009, Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by a Bay Area Rapid Transit officer in Oakland, California.
The officer claimed he mistook his gun for a Taser.
The incident, captured on video, sparked nationwide protests against police brutality and racism. The story was later adapted into the film Fruitvale Station.
