Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer John Scarangella succumbed to gunshot wounds received two weeks earlier when he and his partner were shot by heavily armed gunmen during a traffic stop on 116th Avenue, between 202nd Street and 203rd Street. Officer Scarangella and his partner stopped a van matching the description of one wanted in connection with several burglaries in the area. Before the officers could exit their vehicle, the two occupants of the van exited and opened fire with 9-millimeter semi-automatic handguns, firing a total of 30 shots. Officer Scarangella was struck twice in the head, and his partner was hit 14 times in the legs and back. Officer Scarangella was removed to the hospital where he died two weeks later. His partner was forced to retire in 1982 due to his wounds. The two suspects in the murder fled the state. One suspect was apprehended in North Carolina by detectives from the New York City Police Department and the Sumter County Sheriff's Department. The second suspect was apprehended in Pennsylvania by two police officers from the Philadelphia Police Department when they observed him walking down a street in Philadelphia wearing a bullet-resistant vest. When these officers approached the suspect, he dropped a gun and fled on foot. He was apprehended after a fierce struggle in which several officers were injured. At that time, he was found to have the gun that was used to kill Officer Scarangella and wound his partner. Both suspects were one-time members of the Black Liberation Army. They were convicted of attempted murder in connection with the shooting of Officer Scarangella's partner, but in two different trials, the juries were hung on the charge of murder in connection with the killing of Officer Scarangella. In July of 1986, both suspects were convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. One died in prison on August 30, 2008, and the other died in prison on April 3, 2016. Although never charged, one of the suspects in Officer Scarangella
Survivors
Survivors include his wife, four children, and three siblings.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Scarangella gave the New York City Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Scarangella.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer John G. Scarangella is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In NY, 728 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.9% of this state's fallen. That is 33.9 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At New York City Police Department, 365 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 29.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John G. Scarangella's cause is highlighted.
How John G. Scarangella Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John G. Scarangella is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John G. Scarangella was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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