by Jerry Burke
York, who police say was from Brooklyn, was pinned down after a botched robbery at the Franklin Avenue business Sunday night, Sept. 21. With police closing in and no escape possible, Detective Lt. Dennis Farrell of the Homicide Squad said, "Current indications are that Mr. York decided to take his own life rather than face arrest."
The incident began around 9:50 p.m., when police were in the process of responding to a CVS employee's phone call that a suspicious person was hanging around the store just as it was closing. Just before police arrived, they received another call from an employee, notifying them of a robbery in progress.
Police say York had taken one of the employees to the upstairs office in order to gain access to the safe. According to Farrell, two officers entered the store and proceeded toward the office. "They just about reached [the office area] and the door flew open and the subject engaged them in gunfire," said Farrell.
The suspect, wearing latex gloves and a bandanna, allegedly opened fire and retreated to the back of the store. Police returned fire as other officers safely evacuated the store. Police say York then dropped his duffel bag and continued to fire as he made his way to a side door exit. "Additional officers at the scene had him outflanked and were covering the door," said Farrell.
More shots were exchanged, police said, until York fell near a dry creek bed behind the store as he was running away. A few seconds later, as police were making their way toward him, a single shot was heard. "The officers knew none of them had fired that last shot," said Farrell.
They found York still alive, with wounds to his head, chest, right thigh and right knee. He was taken to Mercy Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 6 a.m. Sept. 22. He was not carrying any identification, but police were able to identify him later that evening.
"York was out on bail for a prior robbery in Manhattan," said Farrell, who also said the Robbery Squad was "reasonably sure" that York was involved with three Elmont robberies in recent months, including one at the McDonald's on Hempstead Turnpike and two at a Meacham Avenue food market.
Farrell said that the police, the Medical Examiner's office and the District Attorney's office were still discussing the case before they officially declare that York's death was caused by self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
"It's a shame that someone so young in this situation felt as though they had no other way out but to take their own life," said Farrell.
