French Connection

Assassin caught and killed 
By, Michele Vizzo


Four people are left dead, including police officer Roland Evans, after suspected assassin, Pierre Jeantot, was shot by New York City Police Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle. Doyle brought Jeantot down with one shot from his .38 caliber service revolver at the bottom of the steps to the platform of 15th St. elevated railway station. 

Jeantot was suspected of working with a French drug kingpin, whom Doyle and partner, Buddy Russo, had been investigating. Jeantot’s lifeless tumble down the railway stairs put an end to the 35th St. Station to the 15Th Street Station foot and car chase pursued by Doyle. 

Jeantot hijacked a train, forcing Doyle to commandeer a pedestrians vehicle into order to follow the train. It wasn’t until Jeantot stumbled off the train that Doyle was able to take his shot on the then unarmed Jeantot. 

According to police and eyewitness accounts, shots were fired at Doyle during a leisurely walk through the park. 

“One second I saw an older woman pushing a baby carriage, and the next second she was on the bleeding on the ground,” said on scene witness, Mary Matera. “I heard gun shots come from somewhere up high, so I  looked to the tops of the buildings,” said Matera, “But didn’t see a shooter.”

The pedestrian shot dead was Betty B. Badluck. She was spending her afternoon pushing her granddaughter in her stroller when the first shots were fired. Badluck was a loving, devoted grandmother who was taken too soon at the age of 63. 

Jeantot then hijacked a passing train, where the killing continued. 

“I saw a frantic looking man storm into my train car, but didn’t think anything of it because it is New York after all, right?” said Sandy Walsh. “All of a sudden a police officer came in after him, and the man shot him dead!”

The officer killed on the train was Roland Evans, 34 years old and a 15 year veteran of the New York City Police Department. He was a father of five boys and will be greatly missed by all. 

“A strange man, I think he was foreign, barged his way to talk to the conductor,” said Liza Orre. “Next thing you know, the train blew past its next stop! That was when passengers started getting upset. Some young guy tried to talk to him, but the strange man shot and killed him!”

The dead trainman was Peter Howe who died at the controls of a heart attack, he was only 27 years old and the conductor of the train was Horatio C. Hornblower, 30 years old. 

Jeantot and Doyle had their final face off at the stairs leading to the elevated train platform. 

“I saw Doyle limping his way to the stairs, he practically collapsed when he got to the railing,” said Julie Mitchel. “He fired one shot, and Jeantot fell down the stairs dead next to Doyle, one shot was all it took.”

While it would have been preferred that Jeantot be prosecuted in court, the streets are safer today without him on them. Detective Doyle was commended for bravery and quick thinking under the circumstances. 

Further investigation will be done on Jeantot to get to the bottom of the suspected smuggling operations. 

One less criminal walks the streets of New York City this evening.