Slain ATF Agent Posthumously Awarded Congressional Badge of Bravery

The courage displayed by Massapequa resident John Capano while attempting to thwart a Seaford pharmacy robbery on New Year’s Eve of 2011 is now recognized on a national level.

U.S. Rep. Peter King, R-Seaford, presented the late Capano and his family with the Congressional Badge of Bravery at his Massapequa Park office Monday afternoon. The Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery honors exceptional acts of bravery in the line of duty by federal law enforcement officers. 

“There are certain acts of bravery that go above and beyond and that is what John Capano is being honored for,” said King, who was joined at Monday’s ceremony by family members of the slain ATF agent. 

Capano, a Seaford native who later settled in Massapequa, served 23 years as an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) before being shot and killed trying to apprehend a suspect in an armed robbery of Charlie's Family Pharmacy on Merrick Road in Seaford on Dec. 31, 2011. At the time of the robbery, Special Agent Capano was off duty and a customer at the pharmacy picking up cancer medication for his father when he confronted the suspect, James McGoey of Hampton Bays, brandishing what appeared to be a firearm inside the store. 

Capano pursued McGoey outside of the pharmacy and engaged him a physical struggle before the ATF agent was mistakenly shot by responding retired police officer Christopher Geraghty and later pronounced dead at an area hospital. The suspect was then shot by Joseph Arbia, an off-duty New York City police officer, and died at the scene. 

Capano’s sister Maryellen Guerriero attended Monday’s dedication to her brother and was emotional when speaking to reporters about the honor. 
“It’s a great honor that we shouldn’t be here for,” she said. 

“This Congressional Badge of Bravery is congress’s recognition as well as all of our recognition paying tribute to the enduring undying honor exuded by John and the heroism left in his wake,” said Jon Adler, national president for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. “We all pass through in this good life but what John did left a footprint that couldn’t be filled by giants.”