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Manhunt For Man Who Killed Four At L.I. Pharmacy
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 20, 2011
Modified Jun 20, 2011
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 20, 2011
Modified Jun 20, 2011
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Police are reviewing surveillance video of the man who opened fire at a Long Island pharmacy, killing four people, yesterday after 10 a.m. The victims were the 45-year-old pharmacist at Haven Drugs, two customers, ages 33 and 71, and a 17-year-old pharmacy worker who was supposed to graduate from high school this week. Suffolk County Police Det. Lt. Gerard Pelkofsky said, "It appears at this time that there was one person involved, but that's also under investigation."
The Medford pharmacy is located in a shopping plaza; a cardiologist who also works in the plaza told Newsday that the owner placed security cameras recently after some armed robberies, "But see, cameras don't prevent these things. They only help after." Pharmacy owner Vinoda Kudchadkar was originally supposed to open the store, but he decided to attend religious services. When he arrived at the scene, he collapsed.
The four victims—Jennifer Mejia, 17; pharmacist Raymond Ferguson, 45; and customers Bryon Sheffield, 71, and Jamie Taccetta, 33—were killed execution style and the suspect stole prescription drugs. Images of the suspect show a man "in his late 20s or early 30s, about 5-foot-8 with a thin build. He has dark hair and was unshaven or has a dark beard and mustache."
Taccetta's boyfriend, who was waiting in a car, called the police when she did not leave. According to the Post, "[James] Manzella then went in to check on her and discovered the carnage... A police source said investigators are theorizing the assailant was an addict seeking narcotics like OxyContin."
Mejia's father told WCBS 2, "She told me ‘Happy Father’s Day.’ I said ‘OK.’ I feel bad because I didn’t even hold her. She wanted to be a doctor." He told the Daily News, "She said people would come in and demand prescription medicine sometimes. People wanted the strong stuff. This was a heavy-duty pharmacy, not like Duane Reade."
Tagged
execution-style
fatal shooting
gun violence
haven drugs
long island
manhunt
medford
pharmacy
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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