Pharmacist: Retired Lt. Accidentally Shot ATF Agent Without Warning

A pharmacist who witnessed the fatal shooting of a federal agent on New Year's Eve told prosecutors that a retired Nassau County (N.Y.) Police lieutenant fired without warning, reports the Associated Press via the Wall Street Journal.

Relying on a document accidentally posted on a prosecutor's website, the A.P. cites the pharmacist's version of the friendly fire shooting death of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives  agent John Capano .

The pharmacist claims the retired lieutenant ran to the scene when he heard reports of a robbery in progress and shot once without warning when he came upon a skirmish between a robbery suspect and agent Capano, who was a customer in the pharmacy and had chased the robbery suspect outside.

The lieutenant's attorney, Brian Davis, has said that his client, Christopher Geraghty, opened fire only after a shot whizzed past his head. Davis said Geraghty thought the shot came from the robbery suspect and has been distraught over the accidental shooting.