In the early evening of June 19, 2014, a tense situation unfolded at a Walmart in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, culminating in the death of 36-year-old Peter Cangemi III. A white male, Cangemi was identified by the Broken Arrow Police Department as the suspect in an attempted armed robbery at the retail store. Reports indicate that he approached the customer service desk, brandished a firearm, and demanded money.
The robbery was thwarted when employees were unable to open the cash drawer, prompting Cangemi to flee the premises.
Witnesses at the scene observed the suspect escaping on a motorcycle. Law enforcement was quickly notified and began a search of the area. The motorcycle was discovered abandoned approximately a mile north of the Walmart in a wooded area. The search for Cangemi continued, and shortly thereafter, police conducted a traffic stop on a pickup truck in the vicinity. The driver and a passenger in the cab of the truck complied with the officer's commands.
However, Peter Cangemi III was a passenger in the bed of the truck, having reportedly asked the two individuals for a ride. As the officer engaged with the occupants of the vehicle, Cangemi stood up, raised a gun to his own head, and fired. He died at the scene from the self-inflicted gunshot wound. The officer on the scene did not discharge their weapon. The investigation concluded that Cangemi was the sole individual involved in the robbery attempt and his subsequent death, and no other arrests were made in connection with the incident.
