Roll of Honor
John Francis Capano
Incident
Special Agent John Capano was shot and killed while struggling with a robbery suspect outside a pharmacy on Merrick Road in Seaford, Nassau County, New York.
Agent Capano was off duty and inside the pharmacy at 2:00 pm when the suspect entered and robbed it of OxyContin and cash. As the suspect exited the store Agent Capano drew his service weapon and attempted to stop him. He shot the armed man once and then began to struggle with him as they exited the store.
A retired Nassau County police officer and an off-duty New York City police officer who were in a deli next door were also alerted. Both came out of the deli and discovered the men struggling over Agent Capano's weapon, which discharged a second time. Mistakenly believing that Agent Capano was an armed suspect, the retired officer opened fire on him, fatally wounding him.
The suspect was then shot and killed by the off duty New York City officer after he picked up the gun and stood up. It was later determined that the suspect was carrying a pellet gun.
Agent Capano had served with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for 23 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two children, father, and five siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-E15A367C- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
23 years. You could have gone home.
Senior Special Agent Capano gave the United States Department of Justice 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Senior Special Agent Capano.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Senior Special Agent John Francis Capano is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In DC, 454 of 1,419 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, 3 of 5 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 60% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Francis Capano's cause is highlighted.
How John Francis Capano Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. John Francis Capano is highlighted in Dec.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from United States Department of Justice - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are honored on badge.nw.
