After twice interviewing the retired cop who allegedly shouted "Gun!" moments before an MTA officer shot a Long Island cop dead, investigators want to speak with him again. Newsday reports that the retired NYPD sergeant, John Cafarella, 58, could face criminal charges, but at this time Nassau police Det. Lt. John Azzata says "there is no indication of any criminality of any particular person." And although sources tell the Post that Cafarella "has an annoying habit of listening to scanners and racing to locations where police are called," yesterday Cafarella's son emerged from his house—a little over a mile from the scene of the shootings—to defend his dad.
"The media's been putting the blame game on my father, it's not right," the son told Newsday. "Did my dad shoot the cop? No. The undercover came on the scene, my dad said 'Gun,' the MTA officer shot. He didn't say 'freeze' or nothing." Cafarella reportedly neither confirms or denies yelling about a gun. And it's still unclear whether the slain officer, Geoffrey Breitkopf, a 12-year veteran and member of the elite Bureau of Special Operations, had his badge openly displayed. It's also unclear whether the uniformed MTA officer, Glenn Gentile, issued a required verbal challenge, such as, "Police, don't move!" before fatally shooting Breitkopf.
Yesterday Breitkopf's wake was held at the Long Island firehouse where he volunteered, and Nassau County Police Benevolent Association President James Carver, who has been openly critical of Cafarella, spoke with reporters there. He said Cafarella "would not leave" the scene, adding, "He should have gotten the hell out of the way." According to Carver (who was not at the scene), when Cafarella shouted "gun," a second MTA cop grabbed Breitkopf to stop him. Breitkopf turned slightly, which may have caused the muzzle of his rifle "to move into what may have seemed, from Gentile's perspective, like a firing position," the Daily News reports.
"He was an incredible father," said brother-in-law John Cunningham through tears. "He'd be the first one on his hands and knees to play with the kids. He had to be involved in everything."
