Brooklyn man who shot officers sought cop job
By VERENA DOBNIK, Associated Press
NEW YORK (August 13, 2000 6:59 p.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) - A man who shot and wounded four police officers in a six-hour standoff that ended in his death was once a jail guard who had pursued a career as a police officer himself, authorities said Sunday.
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani described the man as "obviously seriously deranged."
The 47-year-old had worked as a New York correction officer from 1982 to 1984, but had been fired after complaints against him, which the mayor said were unsubstantiated.
At some point after that, "he made an attempt to become a police officer," Giuliani said.
It wasn't clear Sunday why Albert Alalouf failed to reach that goal, but hours before Saturday's standoff, he told his elderly parents "he would shoot the police," Giuliani said.
Officers who later searched the basement where Alalouf had lived with parents found a dead cat and dog in sealed boxes and an arsenal with "dozens and dozens of samurai swords, Bowie knives, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition," Chief of Detectives William Allee Jr. said.
Police went to the home Saturday afternoon after the parents reported he had brought weapons home and threatened to burn the house down if they didn't leave, police Sgt. Janet Velez said.
About 1:45 p.m., officer Greogory John walked into the back yard to check on him, and Alalouf opened fire from a window, hitting him in the shoulder.
Giuliani later displayed the officer's Kevlar vest, which had at least eight holes where the buckshot had torn into the chest area.
"Thank God for the vest," Giuliani said. John actually was wearing two vests - his personal vest beneath his uniform, and a heavier vest on top, he said.
At the report of an officer down, hundreds of police officers rushed to the area and began evacuating neighbors from nearby houses.
At some point, Alalouf, dressed in camouflage, made a dash through the backyard and across a fence to a nearby home, Giuliani said. Police never saw him.
About 8 p.m., officers approached the front door of the second home, and Alalouf opened fire.
Officer James McGrath, 33, suffered a graze wound to the face, and Officer Jose Guerra, 34, was struck in the face and leg, said Officer Louis Cruz, a police spokesman.
A fourth officer, Jose Ocasio, 43, was shot once in the leg as Alalouf jumped out a back window, Cruz said.
Police fired back, killing the man.
John, 32, was in stable condition Sunday. Guerra, who suffered eye damage and had bullet fragments lodged in his esophagus, was in serious condition, and Ocasio was conscious "and seems to be doing well," Giuliani said.
Three other officers suffered minor injuries that were not gunshot-related, including scratches.
The story can be found HERE.
------------------
God, Guns and Guts made this country a great country!
By VERENA DOBNIK, Associated Press
NEW YORK (August 13, 2000 6:59 p.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) - A man who shot and wounded four police officers in a six-hour standoff that ended in his death was once a jail guard who had pursued a career as a police officer himself, authorities said Sunday.
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani described the man as "obviously seriously deranged."
The 47-year-old had worked as a New York correction officer from 1982 to 1984, but had been fired after complaints against him, which the mayor said were unsubstantiated.
At some point after that, "he made an attempt to become a police officer," Giuliani said.
It wasn't clear Sunday why Albert Alalouf failed to reach that goal, but hours before Saturday's standoff, he told his elderly parents "he would shoot the police," Giuliani said.
Officers who later searched the basement where Alalouf had lived with parents found a dead cat and dog in sealed boxes and an arsenal with "dozens and dozens of samurai swords, Bowie knives, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition," Chief of Detectives William Allee Jr. said.
Police went to the home Saturday afternoon after the parents reported he had brought weapons home and threatened to burn the house down if they didn't leave, police Sgt. Janet Velez said.
About 1:45 p.m., officer Greogory John walked into the back yard to check on him, and Alalouf opened fire from a window, hitting him in the shoulder.
Giuliani later displayed the officer's Kevlar vest, which had at least eight holes where the buckshot had torn into the chest area.
"Thank God for the vest," Giuliani said. John actually was wearing two vests - his personal vest beneath his uniform, and a heavier vest on top, he said.
At the report of an officer down, hundreds of police officers rushed to the area and began evacuating neighbors from nearby houses.
At some point, Alalouf, dressed in camouflage, made a dash through the backyard and across a fence to a nearby home, Giuliani said. Police never saw him.
About 8 p.m., officers approached the front door of the second home, and Alalouf opened fire.
Officer James McGrath, 33, suffered a graze wound to the face, and Officer Jose Guerra, 34, was struck in the face and leg, said Officer Louis Cruz, a police spokesman.
A fourth officer, Jose Ocasio, 43, was shot once in the leg as Alalouf jumped out a back window, Cruz said.
Police fired back, killing the man.
John, 32, was in stable condition Sunday. Guerra, who suffered eye damage and had bullet fragments lodged in his esophagus, was in serious condition, and Ocasio was conscious "and seems to be doing well," Giuliani said.
Three other officers suffered minor injuries that were not gunshot-related, including scratches.
The story can be found HERE.
------------------
God, Guns and Guts made this country a great country!