New Rochelle, New York resident James Pileggi was sitting in his parked car with a friend on the evening of November 3 when he decided to show off his new toy — a 9mm equipped with a laser sight. Unfortunately, the gun went off, and another of Pileggi’s friends, 27-year-old Andre Everett, was struck in the throat. Everett died at a nearby hospital about 45 minutes later.
Pileggi has been arraigned on a charge of second-degree manslaughter. He is still drawing a paycheck as a member of the Eastchester, New York Police Force: After he inadvertently killed his friend through culpable incompetence with a firearm, Pileggi was put on “administrative leave,” which is essentially a paid vacation.
It’s worth remembering that, as a police officer, Pileggi was among the “Only Ones” — the exalted beings commissioned by the divine State to carry firearms, presumably because of their bottomless benevolence and unfailing competence.
11:43 am on November 12, 2009
