John G. Scarangella

New York City Police Department — New York, NY

Felonious

End of Watch May 1, 1981

Age 42

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Badge 22524

The Vigil Panel 124 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1,236

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

Permanent identifier: BO-US-NY-B09A10BD
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

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

Department New York City Police Department

Location New York, NY

Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 1, 1981

Tour of Duty 12 yrs

Age 42

Badge Number 22524

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; 9 mm

Offender Died in prison

Police Officer John G. Scarangella is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NY, 754 of 2,147 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 35.1% of this state's fallen. That is 19.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At New York City Police Department, 382 of 1237 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.9% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Police Department

382

of 1,237 officers

30.9% Felonious

NY — Statewide

754

of 2,147 officers

35.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious