Killed Federal Agent Was Getting Dad's Cancer Meds
NEW YORK – An off-duty federal law enforcement agent who died while confronting a pharmacy robber was picking up his elderly father's cancer medication, a New York congressman said Sunday.Reading through other accounts of the incident, it appears that Capano just happened to walk into the pharmacy as the robber was leaving. At the same time, two off-duty cops in the deli next door had been alerted to the robbery and rushed to the pharmacy. It's not clear whether Capano was shot by the robber or one of the off-duty police officers (none of the articles I read were able to state definitively; the only certain thing is that a stupid robbery over prescription drugs cost two people their lives.
Veteran agent John Capano had chased down the suspect inside the store and was trying to subdue him on the ground when he died, said Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y. The robber, who was also shot to death, was identified Sunday by police as 43-year-old James McGoey of Hampton Bays.
Capano was either shot by the robber or by one of the two off-duty cops responding to the incident. The "best" possible outcome is that McGoey shot Capano and Capano was able to mortally wound McGoey before he died, and the two off-duty cops came upon the scene as it unfolded. The next best scenario would be that Capano was shot by McGoey, and one of the two off-duty cops fatally wounded McGoey. The least appealing option, obviously, would be that Capano was shot by one of the two responding off-duty officers, either in a "heat of battle" mistake or a case of mistaken identity - they hear of a robbery in progress, see a man with a gun, and fire.
It's this last possibility that frightens me. There is always the possibility for someone with a CCW permit to find themselves in a similar situation - there are plenty of stories in the DGC of someone in a restaurant or convenience store stepping in to end a robbery. You'd think that there would be time to differentiate the good guys from the bad guys - but it doesn't always play out that way. This isn't a 1950s western, where the good guy wears a white hat and the bad guy wears a black hat and a bandana - we can't always be sure the police will know we're the good guys...
In any case, RIP Agent Capano.
That is all.
7 comments:
"we can't always be sure the police will know we're the good guys..."
Sadly, all too true. Even if we're not carrying, if we're trying to escape a deadly situation we don't always have time to stop and show our ID to the police.
I head a news story some years ago of two officers responding to an armed robbery call at a convenience store. As the cruiser pulled up in front of the store two people came running out. One of the officers bailed out, drew her gun, and shot them both. Later they were identified as the store clerk and a customer fleeing the robbers who were still inside.
The officer was clearly wrong to shoot without identifying the targets or ever seeing a weapon, and paid with her career. But still, it makes the point that it's hard to tell friend from foe.
Sad thing is, he sounded like he was a Good Cop who worked for a BAD Agency, the ATF.
And yet, Officer Harliss, Canton Ohio's Finest is still on the force.....
Never chase the robber down the street with a gun in your hand. The police do not know who is who.
I'm afraid of how this one is going to end up... Just sayin...
Me too, NFO. I suspect it was a case of mistaken identity just from the way they're being tight-lipped on the specifics.
In this case, though, it is REALLY hard to blame the off-duty cops. Here they are, sitting in a cafe having lunch, when someone runs in saying that the pharmacy is being robbed. They rush into the store to see a man holding a gun, possibly even pointing it at someone.
Damn tough call.
Honestly, these sorts of scenarios are the reason that my CCW piece is there to defend me and mine. If I happen upon something, I have no idea what the backstory is, nor who the players are, and I don't dare chose the wrong side...
Reports state that the robber possessed a black pellet pistol. Draw your own conclusions from that information.
Seems deli-owner, a retired cop, shot him. ATF agent's father is retired cop in the town. ATF agent lived in the town. "Everyone knows the Capano's" was a comment I've seen in a story.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/nyregion/piecing-together-events-in-agents-fatal-shooting.html?src=me&ref=nyregion
Seems odd how often NYC area cops and ex-cops decide to shoot anyone not wearing a uniform who is armed regardless of what they are doing.
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