New York State Police Sgt. Jay Cook shot and captured escaped cop killer Dave Sweat. (Photo: New York State Police)
Prison-break fugitive David Sweat’s life on the lam came to an abrupt end Sunday, thanks to the aim of a New York State Police trooper.
Sgt. Jay Cook, a 21-year veteran state trooper and firearms instructor, was hailed a “hero” by Gov. Cuomo, after he single-handedly confronted escaped cop-killer Sweat on a desolate road and shot him twice in the torso as the fugitive made a run for the woods.
Sweat was taken into custody bloodied, but alive.
Cook graduated from the state police academy in 1994. Out of 150 candidates, he graduated the most proficient shooter in his class.
Besides being a firearms instructor, Cook was the Troop B officer in charge of a new ballistics and gun registration system.
“He did an excellent job,” state police Superintendent Joseph D’Amico told the New York Daily News. “I think he did a very courageous and brave act of policing.”
