The sad story of the Long Island cop who was fatally shot by an MTA officer outside a satanist's home in Massapequa Park gets a closer look in the Times today. It's an engrossing read, detailing the chain of events that culminated in retired NYPD sergeant in Massapequa Park yelling "Gun!" and Officer Glenn Gentile shooting Geoffrey J. Breitkopf dead. If you're familiar with the tragic incident, here's what's new:
Theresa Kelly, the retired hairdresser who called 911 after Anthony DiGeronimo banged on her car hood brandishing knives, has disparaged Cafarella's actions at the crime scene. Cafarella, 58, lived nearby and was driving past the DiGeronimo house when officers were confronting the emotionally disturbed man. He tried to help persuade him to drop the knives, and after DiGeronimo was fatally shot, he stayed on the scene. According to Kelly, Cafarella was "running all over like a lunatic, shouting orders; he caused a lot of chaos."
Kelly claims Cafarella, wearing a red fleece, cursed at her to leave and kicked her car door shut. And when her son tried to come to her aid, other officers, including possibly Cafarella, refused to let him get to her, threatening him with pepper spray until he left. The Times speculates that the heated altercation with Kelly's son may have been on the officers' minds when Breitkopf arrived on the scene in plainclothes, carrying a rifle.
Cafarella admits he might have yelled "He's got a gun!" Officer Gentile did not know Officer Breitkopf, and when another officer grabbed Breitkopf to stop him, this caused him to turn slightly toward Gentile, who is believed to have fired without declaring, "Police! Don't Move!" The plainclothes officer is then supposed to say "Police! Don't shoot!" But the tragedy unfolded so swiftly he didn't have a chance. The Times reports that as Officer Breitkopf lay dying, Cafarella rushed over and ripped the rifle out of his hands. At that moment, one officer nearly shot Cafarella, while another grabbed him by the throat. At this point, Cafarella identified himself as a retired police officer who was "on the job."
