Pharmacy robber, federal agent shot dead in NY

AP Yahoo ^ | January 1, 2012 | CRISTIAN SALAZAR

[cynwoody]

When the robbery took place, John Capano was in the store to pick up cancer meds for his 82-year-old father, who is a retired NYPD detective. Capano followed the robber out the door. Then, according to the New York Daily News,

John Capano confronted the thief, who was carrying stolen cash and OxyContin, outside the pharmacy.

Meanwhile, someone ran for help to the deli next door, and an off-duty NYPD cop and retired Nassau County lieutenant jumped into the action.

John Capano was shot in the mayhem. The robber then pointed his gun at the cop and retired lieutenant, sources said, and was fatally shot by one of them.

So, it's clear as mud. However, it's also clear the cops who were in the deli had not seen the robber in the dug store.

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[VermiciousKnid]

Jack,

I do not pretend to know anything more than what was written in the article, but I can tell you this:

Since all three LEOs were apparently off duty, I would venture that all three actually LIVED in the neighborhood.

I don’t know where you’re from, but I live on Long Island and can tell you that Seaford and MANY other neighborhoods (including my own) are both densely populated and home to very high numbers of policemen and their families. Chances are, all of them lived nearby and they were simply out shopping yesterday, possibly stocking up on necessities before the stores closed early for New Year’s.

Regards,

PS: Once again, I do not know where these guys lived. Still, the above is my best guess.

[VermiciousKnid]

Oops!

Correction 1: The dead ATF guy was from Massapequa, the town next door to Seaford.

Correction 2: Only 2 officers were off duty. The other was retired.

Regards,

[calex59]

That's true. The cop's highest priority is usually his own personal safety, which makes him more likely to blow away anybody with a weapon who's not in uniform.

They are also more likely to blow away people holding keys, cell phones, soda bottles and other non-weapon like objects. This is proved by numerous TRUE articles describing such events. Cops have the responsibility to make sure of their targets, and to make sure they are not killing some law abiding citizen they think is a bad guy.

[Navy Patriot]

So, it's clear as mud. However, it's also clear the cops who were in the deli had not seen the robber in the dug store.

This is as difficult as it gets.

Again, without complete information, Capano may have followed the robber out of the pharmacy, not expecting to find two plainclothes, off duty cops there that didn't know who he was.

The response changes at one fifth of a second intervals, and I can't imagine a worse situation for identification of who is who.

My point is that gun prohibition laws lure cops into an attitude that anyone not in uniform with a gun is a legitimate target.

[William Tell]

Wouldn’t it be a fantastic coincidence if the ATF agent who was killed had any involvement in Fast and Furious? Nah, nobody would believe it.

[William Tell]

The linked article illustrates why those who carry concealed must consider very carefully how to respond to an incident. If you don’t KNOW exactly who is armed and why then you will be taking a huge risk by drawing your gun.