The French Connection

Police Chase and Kill Suspected Assassin

New York City – A suspected assassin was shot and killed Sunday afternoon on the steps of the platform to the 15th St. railway station after a long chase with a New York City police detective.

According to the police report, it took Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle only one shot from his .38 caliber service revolver to kill Pierre Jeantot, 36. Police suspect Jeantot, of Nice, France, had been hired to assassinate Doyle.

“We commend Detective Doyle for his bravery and quick thinking under very trying circumstances,” said Ruth L. Ess, the New York City Police commissioner.

Though details of the case are still being uncovered, police also suspect that Jeantot had been working on behalf of a French drug kingpin that Doyle and his partner, Buddy “Cloudy” Russo, had been investigating.

After shooting at Doyle from the rooftop of an apartment building at 1767 W. 57th Ave., Jeantot hijacked a train at 35th St. Station, according to the police report. Doyle followed the train in a commandeered car until the train stopped at 15th St. Station.

Jeantot left several victims in his wake. Bronx resident Betty B. Badluck, 63, was shot and killed while walking her granddaughter near Doyle’s apartment building this morning. Roland Evans, 34, a 15-year veteran of the New York City Police Department, and Horatio C. Hornblower, 30, the conductor of the train, were both shot by Jeantot on the hijacked train. Trainman Peter Howe, 27, died of a heart attack at the controls of the train.

“It is always unfortunate when these incidents end in a loss of life,” Commissioner Ess said.

According to the police report, Homeland Security records show that Jeantot entered the United States on Nov. 4 from Paris, France. “We suspect he was associated with a crime syndicate that had been laying the groundwork for a major heroin shipment from France to New York City,” Ess said.

Ess said two other men are currently being sought in connection with the drug crime. “We will continue a vigorous and thorough investigation into what appears to be a major smuggling operation.”

*class assignment*