Honoring Our Fallen Agents

Special Agents Laura Schwartzenberger and Daniel Alfin were killed in the line of duty on February 2, 2021, while executing a federal court-ordered search warrant in Sunrise, Florida. They were honored in memorial services on February 6 and 7 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Hundreds of law enforcement personnel escorted the hearse carrying the body of Daniel Alfin to Hard Rock Stadium on February 7.

Laura Schwartzenberger's casket is borne into Hard Rock Stadium for her memorial service on February 6.

Laura Schwartzenberger joined the Bureau in 2005. In 2007, she became the first ever female FBI SWAT team member in Albuquerque. In 2010, Laura transferred to Miami, where she joined the Violent Crimes Against Children squad and worked alongside Daniel Alfin on the dive team.

"Every special agent recognizes that making the choice to be an agent might one day require the ultimate sacrifice for complete strangers."

— FBI Director Christopher Wray

"True service is a test. It’s an act of faith. And Laura had faith. She had faith in people. She had faith in the work she was called to do. She nurtured that faith. She shared it. And she lived it, every day."

— Director Christopher Wray

Pallbearers escort Daniel Alfin's casket into Hard Rock Stadium for his memorial. "It’s heartbreaking," Director Wray said in the eulogy. "There’s no other word for it."

A member of the Miami-Dade Police Department honor guard tends to Daniel Alfin's casket.

"I know there is much sadness today. And that sadness will never fully disappear. But we can find joy knowing that Laura brought hope where there was only despair. We can find joy knowing that she brought light into some of the darkest places, and that she died as she lived—making a difference, serving her community, and keeping kids safe."

— Director Christopher Wray

Daniel Alfin became an agent in 2009 and was assigned to Albany, New York. In 2014, he moved to Maryland to work in the Crimes Against Children Unit at Headquarters. His team won a Director’s Award—the highest honor possible in the Bureau—for Operation Pacifier, a global investigation that took down one of the largest child sexual exploitation sites on the dark web. He moved back to Florida in 2017 because, he said, "It’s glorious!"

The Miami-Dade Police Department honor guard presents a flag to FBI Director Christopher Wray, who then presented it to the family of Laura Schwartzenberger.

A riderless horse honored Special Agents Schwartzenberger and Alfin. The empty boots facing backwards in the stirrups are said to symbolize a rider's last journey as they look back on loved ones.

A pipe and drum corps plays as the casket carrying Daniel Alfin is escorted from his memorial service.

Helicopter flyovers punctuated the memorials for Special Agents Schwartzenberger and Alfin.

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