Due to an ongoing smuggling investigation, Pierre Jeantot, 38, of Nice, France, was allegedly associated with a major French drug kingpin to transport heroin from France to New York. In this incident, it is suspected that Jeantot acted as a hired assassin to exterminate Detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle who was working on the case.
The events began during Doyle's walk down 57th avenue. According to Erin Kellenbeck, 20, as she was walking by the apartment building at 1767 W. 57th Ave., she witnessed the gunshot that took the life of Betty B. Badluck.
"Everything happened suddenly," said Kellenbeck. "I barely noticed Doyle until I heard a gunshot and saw [Badluck] fall to the ground while he quickly ran to a nearby tree for coverage."
Badluck was walking with her granddaughter near Doyle's apartment building when the shots were fired.
"It was unfortunate," said Kellenbeck. "If Doyle didn't happen to walk behind her, she wouldn't have been in the line of fire. She just seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."
At this point, Kellenbeck heard three more gun shots fired at Doyle that missed as he ran towards the concealment of the nearby apartment complex.
"I remember seeing Doyle walk past several apartment windows," said Kellenbeck. "One had 2 young boys who Doyle conversed with in Spanish."
Kellenbeck recounted Doyle disappearing from her sight as he continued into the building.
The failed assassination led to a dangerous chase as Jeantot led Doyle to the 35th St. Station. Mason Pedelose, 20, found himself a key component in the chase as Doyle commandeered his vehicle in order to follow the elevated train.
"He ran right in front of my car and ordered me to get out," said Pedelose. "I was mostly concerned about when I would get my car back but before I knew it, [Doyle] went speeding off with my beautiful red baby and rammed into the left side of a white car that pulled into the road out of nowhere."
Meanwhile on the elevated train, Jeantot's attempt to outrun Detective Doyle resulted in the deaths of two conductors and one police patrolman. Eye witness Adam Konopka, 19, was sitting in the first train car when Jeantot came running from the back doors and up to the conductor's house.
"No one really payed much attention until we missed our designated stop," said Konopka. "At that point everyone stood in confusion as a police man started to beat on the conductor's door."
Jeantot reappeared from the conductor's house when confronted by 15-year New York City Police Department Veteran, Roland Evans of Brooklyn.
"[Brooklyn] kept questioning Jeantot," said Konopka. "He kept telling the patrol man not to step any closer, but Brooklyn proceeded. That's when Jeantot fired a shot into Brooklyn's side."
Conductor, Peter Howe, 27, of Queens, died of a heart attack at the controls as a result of the hijacking. Jeantot then fired at and killed conductor Horatio C. Hornblower, 30, of White Plains.
In a grueling chase from 35th St. Station to 15th St. Station, the assault on Detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle ended with a final shot. According to civilian eye witness, Nathan McNeal, 20, Doyle took the life of Jeantot at the 15th St. Station elevated railway station.
"I was under the railway when I saw a man emerge from the train," said McNeal. "He ran right along the tracks and off onto the platform.
According to McNeal, Doyle could be seen running from the red vehicle towards the bottom of the staircase of the platform to cut off Jeantot's further escape.
"Doyle seemed exhausted," said McNeal. "As Jeantot saw him below he turned to run off and that's when Doyle fired a single shot into his back."
McNeal recounted Jeantot's last moves as he fell down the stairs to a slouching Doyle, dead.
"It is always unfortunate when these incidents end in a loss of life," reported the police. "We would have preferred to see Jeantot prosecuted in the courts, and we believe Doyle was close to a breakthrough on the case."
Although many innocent lives were lost, the NYPD commends Doyle for his persistence, quick thinking, and bravery during this incident. Police are continuing a vigorous investigation on the major drug smuggling operation as well as Jeantot's involvement. The innocent losses of this attack work to strengthen their continuing search.
"We will not sit still while drug dealers walk our streets."
No comments:
Post a Comment