Crime & Safety

Seaford Pharmacy Receives Support in Wake of Fatal Shooting

Charlie's Family Pharmacy reopens Monday morning with customers and business community offering well wishes two days after deadly armed robbery at business.

The Seaford pharmacy that was the site of a during an attempted robbery on New Year’s Eve reopened Monday morning amid support from loyal customers and the local business community.

Charles Laquidara, owner of , said that soon after his business opened at 9 a.m., he listened to numerous voicemails left over the weekend expressing concern and support from many in the community after Saturday’s armed robbery at the store that left two people dead.

Since Charlie’s first opened at 3931 Merrick Rd. 14 years ago, Laquidara has developed relationships with many residents in the area who utilize the pharmacy for their medications.

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“This is a very close community and everyone gets affected by something like this,” Laquidara said.

One customer that Laquidara knew well was John Capano of Massapequa, an off-duty federal agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), who was responding to Saturday’s armed robbery.

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Capano was picking up cancer medication for his elderly father shortly before 2 p.m. Saturday when James McGoey of Hampton Bays entered the store demanding cash and drugs, prompting the ATF agent and two other men to confront the suspect as he fled out the front door. A shootout ensued and both Capano and McGoey were killed.

Police have not released details on who shot Capano.

Laquidara said while he appreciates the widespread support his business is receiving, he hopes the pharmacy can get back to some sense of normalcy this week. Prior to reopening Monday, crime scene detectives were outside Charlie’s on Sunday afternoon continuing to investigate the prior day’s shooting. A memorial was also placed in a planting area in front of Charlie’s in honor of Capano, who NBC reported was a 23-year veteran of the ATF and a trained explosives expert who taught U.S. military and local forces in Afghanistan and Iraq how to investigate blasts.

The local business community is offering support to Charlie’s Family Pharmacy, which is a member of the . Ken Jacobsen, president of the Seaford Chamber of Commerce, stopped by Charlie’s Monday morning offering support to Laquidara.

“If there is anything they need we will certainly be there for him,” said Jacobsen, who added that the chamber will bring up ways to offer support to Charlie’s Pharmacy during its meeting Tuesday. “We are here for him.”


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