As the World Watched
September 11th, 2001. A day of terror. A day of grief. Thousands died in the attacks on the World Trade Center. But that night, another tragedy unfolded — quietly, on a Brooklyn street.
Henryk Siwiak was the only person murdered in New York City that day whose death wasn’t caused by terrorism.
New to America
He was 46. A Polish immigrant. He had arrived in New York just a few months earlier. He didn’t speak much English. But he was determined to work.
He was staying with his sister, who lived in Far Rockaway, Queens. She had already built a life in the U.S. Henryk had left his wife and two children behind in Kraków. He hoped to save money and bring them over.
That night, Henryk got a new cleaning job. He was excited — it paid more. His shift started at midnight at a Pathmark supermarket in Flatbush.
But Henryk got lost.
He asked for directions. Miscommunication followed. With his heavy accent and limited English, it’s believed he was misunderstood. Instead of going to Flatbush, he ended up in Bedford-Stuyvesant — unfamiliar territory at the time.
A Case of Mistaken Identity?
He walked along Decatur Street, wearing a camouflage jacket and carrying a backpack. It was late. It was dark. And it was a rough part of the city.
Just before midnight, gunshots rang out. A single bullet hit Henryk in the chest. Neighbors called 911. Police found him bleeding on the sidewalk. He was pronounced dead shortly after.
No wallet was taken. His cash remained in his pocket. His cell phone was intact. It didn’t look like a robbery.
But no one saw what happened. The neighborhood was already tense. Residents were reluctant to speak. The NYPD was overwhelmed. Every available unit was focused on Ground Zero.
So Henryk’s murder — just hours after the towers fell — was barely noticed.
Investigators believe he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
A Fight to Keep His Story Alive
His family in Poland was devastated. His sister in Queens was heartbroken. She had urged him to stay home that night. But Henryk wanted to work. He wanted to send money back to his wife and kids.
Now, 24 years later, his murder remains unsolved. No suspects, no motive, and no justice.
His was the only murder recorded in New York City on 9/11. Henryk Siwiak. A name lost in the shadow of tragedy. A man who came chasing the American dream — and died in silence.
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