In the early morning hours of February 15, 1971, a tragic event unfolded within the walls of the 41st Precinct stationhouse on Simpson Street in the Bronx. Detective Joseph Picciano, a 33-year-old male, was in the process of fingerprinting a prisoner named Antonio Allemano. Allemano had been arrested for the attempted abduction of a 13-year-old boy.
Suddenly, a struggle erupted between the detective and the suspect in the second-floor squad room.
During the scuffle, Detective Picciano's service revolver was dislodged and fell to the floor. Allemano quickly seized the opportunity, grabbing the fallen weapon. He fired two shots, striking Detective Picciano in the chest and stomach, before spraying the room with more bullets.
The sound of the gunshots alerted other officers in the precinct. Detective William Lally rushed to the scene from across the hall. Upon witnessing the horrific event, Detective Lally immediately returned fire, fatally shooting the suspect, Antonio Allemano. Two other detectives, Joe Marrero and Richard Ware, had taken cover during the exchange and had shouted a warning to Picciano when his gun fell. Detective Picciano was rushed to Jacobi Hospital, but his wounds were too severe, and he was pronounced dead.
An investigation into Allemano's background revealed a significant criminal history with at least three different aliases. His prior offenses included assault in San Juan, burglary and larceny in Cleveland, and endangering the welfare of a child in New York City. Detective Picciano had been a dedicated member of the New York City Police Department for 11 years, having been promoted to detective in June of 1969. He resided in Maspeth, Queens, with his wife and three young children. On February 19, 1971, a funeral service was held at St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church in Maspeth, where over 4,000 mourners, including Mayor John Lindsay and Police Commissioner Patrick V. Murphy, gathered to pay their respects.
