A district attorney in Massachusetts announced on Monday that another agency must handle the investigation into a State Police recruit’s death after a boxing training exercise. The recruit, Enrique Delgado-Garcia, 25, passed away at a hospital a day after the exercise at the Massachusetts State Police Academy in New Braintree.
Before pursuing his dream of joining the state police, Delgado-Garcia had worked as a victim witness advocate at the county attorney’s office for 18 months. District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. mentioned at a news conference the need for another agency to take over the investigation due to the close relationship between Delgado-Garcia and his former office colleagues.
Early noted that detectives from his office would still be involved in the investigation but would collaborate with the agency overseeing the case. He stressed the importance of an impartial party handling the investigation. Early did not disclose the name of the agency that would be taking over, ruling out the involvement of another district attorney’s office.
A state police spokesperson stated that Delgado-Garcia received immediate medical attention from the academy’s on-site medical team when he became unresponsive during the training exercise. Delgado-Garcia was equipped with boxing gear, and he was taken to the hospital for urgent medical care before succumbing to his injuries.
Delgado-Garcia’s mother, Sandra Garcia, expressed confusion and grief over the incident, stating that her son sustained severe injuries during what was supposed to be a training session. The cause of Delgado-Garcia’s death is pending an autopsy report, as Early confirmed.
The district attorney mentioned that the incident occurred in a boxing ring and was captured on video footage, which he had not seen at the time of the news conference. Delgado-Garcia was set to graduate from the academy on October 9 and was administered the oath of office shortly before his passing.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey expressed her condolences over the tragic loss of Delgado-Garcia. Early described the recruit as a well-respected and pleasant individual whose presence could light up a room. He acknowledged the emotional toll the event had on everyone involved.