The rampage began around 9 p.m. when Garvin went into a pizzeria, asked for a menu, then shot an employee 15 times in the back, Bloomberg said. Police identified the victim as Alfredo Romero, 35.
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Garvin fled after the shooting, and police who heard the shots radioed information about the gunman. Pekearo and Marshalik approached the gunman, who fired at them.
One of the officers ordered Garvin to drop a bag full of weapons. He did, but then he led them on a chase before turning on them, and shot Marshalik in the back of the head.
Police released surveillance footage that showed Pekearo ducking behind a car before he was fatally shot as Garvin hovered over him.
Had Pekearo and Marshalik, unarmed police auxiliary, or any of the dozens of other private citizens present been able to shoot back Pekearo and Marshalik would likely be alive today. It’s even possible Romero would have survived. But this is New York City where private citizens are not allowed to carry personal protection tools such as guns.
While reading it I wondered how a known, armed felon could end up “hovering over” a police officer and shooting him in the back of the head. I thought; This isn’t the UK where cops, being unarmed, must simply run away. Then I got to the “unarmed police auxiliary” bit and it became clear.
I guess someoine in NY thought it would be cool to have cops who are reduced to pleading with criminals, “Please mister felon, Sir, chill out, lay down your weapons and come have a rap session with us downtown– we’ll buy the coffee. Oh, and thank you for not killing us.”