14 Facts About Griselio Torresola

Griselio Torresola Roura was a Puerto Rican militant of the Nationalist Party.

Griselio Torresola's family believed in the Puerto Rican independence cause.

At the age of 23 Griselio Torresola moved to New York City in August 1948 to gain work.

Griselio Torresola was employed by a New York stationery and perfume store.

Griselio Torresola lived with his new love Carmen Dolores Otero, who was pregnant with their second child, and their young daughter Rebecca, on a welfare check of $125 a month.

In New York City, Griselio Torresola was angered by the situation.

Griselio Torresola later learned that an extensive part of his hometown was destroyed, but the scale of military response was not reported outside of Puerto Rico.

Griselio Torresola walked up Pennsylvania Avenue from the west side while his partner, Oscar Collazo, engaged Secret Service special agents and White House policemen from the east.

Griselio Torresola approached a guard booth at the west corner of the Blair house, and noted an officer, sitting inside.

Griselio Torresola saw that a plainclothes White House policeman named Joseph Downs had turned back toward him.

Griselio Torresola shot him in the hip before he could draw his weapon, and twice more.

Griselio Torresola then turned his attention to a firefight between Collazo and several law enforcement officers.

Griselio Torresola shot District of Columbia policeman Donald Birdzell in the left knee from a distance of approximately 40 feet, incapacitating him and preventing him from shooting Collazo.

Griselio Torresola was buried at the Jayuya Municipal Cemetery in Jayuya, Puerto Rico.