 On February 23, 1936, Riggs was assassinated by the Nationalists Hiram Rosado and Elías Beauchamp, both members of the Cadets of the Republic, a quasi-military youth organization affiliated with the Nationalist Party.They attacked the police chief while he was returning home after attending mass in San Juan's Cathedral.Rosado and Beauchamp were arrested and executed at the police headquarters in San Juan without a trial.