Marlon Legere was born on October 10, 1975, in Trinidad and Tobago. He later moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he lived with his family. Legere had a troubled past and a history of criminal activity. Over the years, he was convicted of multiple crimes, including sexual assault, attempted sale of a controlled substance, and attempted assault. He spent time in several prisons, including Greene and Sing Sing Correctional Facilities.

Despite his criminal record, Legere remained in and out of trouble with law enforcement. His mother, Melva Legere, had called the police for help in the past due to concerns about her son’s behavior. She feared that he might become violent or steal from her.

On September 10, 2004, Marlon Legere's mother, Melva, contacted the 67th Precinct in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, to request help from NYPD detectives Robert Parker and Patrick Rafferty. She was worried that her son might try to take her car without permission. Parker and Rafferty, both experienced detectives, responded to her call and began looking for Legere.

The detectives found Legere sitting in his mother’s Mazda 626 on East 49th Street. They approached the vehicle from both sides, unaware of the danger they were about to face. Neither officer was wearing a bulletproof vest. As they tried to take Legere into custody, he managed to grab Detective Parker’s 9mm Glock pistol. In a sudden and violent attack, he shot both detectives multiple times.

Despite being shot, Detective Rafferty was able to return fire, wounding Legere in the foot and ankle. Detective Parker, though critically injured, managed to call 911 and provide the name of the shooter before he died. Both officers were rushed to the hospital but did not survive their injuries.

After the shooting, Legere fled the scene by carjacking a minivan. He drove to an apartment where a female acquaintance lived and tried to hide. A neighbor saw him bleeding on a fire escape and called the police. About two hours after the shooting, officers arrested Legere. The gun he had stolen from Detective Parker was later recovered from a nearby lot.

On September 13, 2004, Legere was officially charged with first-degree murder. During his trial, he pleaded not guilty and did not testify. His defense lawyers claimed he acted in self-defense, arguing that he thought he was being robbed since the detectives were in plainclothes and driving an unmarked car. However, the jury did not believe his story.

After just one day of deliberation, the jury found Legere guilty. On February 22, 2006, he was sentenced to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. He also received additional time for robbery and criminal mischief. As of 2006, Legere was serving his sentence at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York.

The murders of Detectives Parker and Rafferty shocked New York City and led to calls for greater protection for police officers. Their bravery and sacrifice are still remembered today.